Mosiah 14

The Arm of the Lord

Yea, even doth not Isaiah say: Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Mosiah 14:1

The "arm of the Lord" is God's saving power, and here it is revealed in the suffering servant described next. The New Testament applies this verse to people's disbelief in Jesus.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:1 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• fulfilled by John 12:37-38 — John quotes it about those who would not believe on Jesus.
• the same title in Mosiah 12:24 — "The Lord hath made bare his holy arm."

Tender Plant, Root out of Dry Ground

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him. Mosiah 14:2

The Messiah would grow up quietly before the Father, like a small shoot from dry, unpromising ground, with nothing in His looks to draw worldly admiration. Jesus grew up in humble Nazareth in just this way.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:2 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• the same title in Isaiah 11:1 — The Messiah as a rod and Branch growing from the roots of Jesse.

Man of Sorrows

Man of Sorrows — one who knows grief from the inside

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Mosiah 14:3

Jesus would be rejected by His own people and would know sorrow and grief personally. The title "man of sorrows" is one reason we trust He understands our pain.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:3 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• fulfilled by John 1:11 — "His own received him not."

Bearer of Our Griefs

Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Mosiah 14:4

Christ carries not only our sins but our griefs and sorrows. People assumed His suffering was God's punishment of Him, when it was really for us.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:4 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• fulfilled by Matthew 8:17 — Matthew quotes it as fulfilled in Jesus' healings.
• interpreted by Alma 7:11-12 — He takes upon Him pains, afflictions and infirmities so He can succor His people.

Wounded for Our Transgressions

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Mosiah 14:5

Christ's wounds were for our sins, and His stripes heal us. This is the heart of the Atonement: He took the punishment that brings us peace.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:5 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• quoted by 1 Peter 2:24 — "By whose stripes ye were healed."

The Iniquities of Us All Laid on Him

All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all. Mosiah 14:6

Everyone has wandered like lost sheep, and the Father placed all of our sins on His Son. No one is left out of the need for Him or out of His reach.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:6 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• alluded to by 1 Peter 2:25 — "Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd."

Lamb to the Slaughter

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth. Mosiah 14:7

Like a sacrificial lamb, Jesus went to His death silently and willingly, answering nothing to His accusers. Philip taught the Ethiopian that this verse is about Jesus.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:7 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• interpreted by Acts 8:32-35 — Philip preaches Jesus from this very scripture.
• fulfilled by Matthew 27:12-14 — Jesus answers His accusers nothing.
• quoted by Mosiah 15:6 — Abinadi quotes the line about Christ being led.

Cut Off out of the Land of the Living

He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken. Mosiah 14:8

The Messiah would be taken through an unjust trial and killed for His people's sins. Abinadi picks up the question "who shall declare his generation?" in Mosiah 15:10.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:8 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• quoted by Acts 8:33 — Quoted in the passage Philip explains as Jesus.
• interpreted by Mosiah 15:10-13 — Abinadi explains "his generation" and "his seed."

Grave with the Wicked and the Rich

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Mosiah 14:9

Jesus, who never sinned, died between criminals and was buried in a rich man's tomb, exactly as this verse foretold.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:9 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• fulfilled by Matthew 27:57-60 — Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, lays Jesus in his own tomb.
• quoted by 1 Peter 2:22 — "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth."

His Soul an Offering for Sin

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Mosiah 14:10

The Father allowed His Son to suffer as the sin offering, the reality the law's sacrifices pictured. Afterward the Son "shall see his seed" and "prolong his days", which point to the Resurrection and to the people He redeems (Mosiah 15:10–13).

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:10 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• interpreted by Mosiah 15:10-12 — His seed are those who believe the prophets and look to Him for remission of sins.

My Righteous Servant

He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Mosiah 14:11

The Father calls Christ "my righteous servant," who makes many righteous by carrying their sins. It is a hidden title: the servant is never named, but only Jesus fits.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:11 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• the same title in Isaiah 42:1 — "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect."

Intercessor for the Transgressors

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Mosiah 14:12

Christ would give His life, be counted among criminals, carry many people's sins, and plead for sinners. Jesus quoted this line about Himself the night before He died.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 53:12 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• fulfilled by Luke 22:37 — Jesus: "And he was reckoned among the transgressors" must be accomplished in me.
• interpreted by Mosiah 15:8-9 — The Son is given power to make intercession, standing between us and justice.