In his masterful sermon, Jacob weaves together at least three seemingly disparate strands into a wonderful harmony. He takes his father’s teachings on agency, his father’s declaration of the Atonement of the savior, and Isaiah’s discourse on the gathering of Israel and combined them into a coherent whole. In Jacob’s hands, Isaiah’s prophecy of the scattering of Israel becomes fertile ground for prophecy of the crucifixion of the savior and Israel’s role. Thus, Jacob.

There’s so much that can be said about this sermon, and I will probably say more over several posts. But I ultimately believe that one verse is a poignant summary of Jacob’s overall message.

18 But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever.

In Jacob’s discourse, it is faith in Christ that makes one a member of the kingdom of God. It is through excercised of agency, that we chose to follow him. And ultimately, those who follow them will rise with him to the resurrection of the righteous.

Jacob’s ultimate purpose in sharing his message is that his people “may rejoice” and lift up their heads.” Namely that they may know of the blessings promised to them by God. Thus, Jacob builds upon Isaiah’s words and focuses not only on the temporal blessings of following God, but also on the eternal ones. His discourse thus builds upon the themes of Isaiah and assimilates them in new and innovative ways.



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