Jacob 1

Christ

Christ — Greek Christos, "the Anointed One" (Hebrew Messiah)

And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our people. Jacob 1:4

Jacob is told to record sacred preaching, revelation, and prophecy "for Christ's sake." The small plates exist to bear witness of Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 2 Nephi 25:26 — Nephi's purpose for the same plates: "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ."

Christ

And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come. Jacob 1:6

Through revelation and the spirit of prophecy, the Nephite prophets knew Christ by name centuries before His birth, and knew His kingdom would come.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by Jacob 4:4 — Jacob repeats the witness: "we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming."

Christ

Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness. Jacob 1:7

The prophets' whole labor was to invite people to come unto Christ and enter the Lord's rest. Jacob warns with the example of Israel in the wilderness, whom Jehovah (the premortal Christ) would not let enter His rest because they hardened their hearts.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Psalm 95:8-11 — "Harden not your heart, as in the provocation ... Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest."
• the same event in Hebrews 3:7-11 — Hebrews applies the same provocation warning to believers in Christ.
• alluded to by Moroni 10:32 — Moroni's closing invitation: "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him."

Crucifixion

Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi. Jacob 1:8

About 500 years before Calvary, Jacob knows Christ will die on a cross. He asks people to "view his death" in faith and take up His cross, bearing the world's mockery as His disciples.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 2 Nephi 9:18 — Jacob's earlier sermon: the saints of the Holy One of Israel "have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it."
• alludes to 1 Nephi 11:33 — Nephi saw the Son of God "lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world."
• fulfilled by John 19:17-18 — Jesus bears His cross to Golgotha and is crucified.