The One Thing Jesus Didn’t Do
Unwrapping the greatest gift we can offer this Christmas
Author note: The following article was written as a congregational address in Kigali, Rwanda at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Referenced sources come from the Bible (King James), Brigham Young University (a private school of the Church), and the Book of Mormon (companion scripture to the Bible, written by ancient inhabitants of the American continent)
If Jesus appeared to you today, what would he say?
In one of my favorite talks of all time, Jeffrey R. Holland, then President of Brigham Young University, shared the following story:
“Imagine yourselves to be among the people of Nephi living in the land of Bountiful in approximately A.D. 34 [following the Savior’s crucifixion]… Everything has been changed, the entire earth around you has been deformed. Some cities — entire cities — have burst into flames… Others have disappeared into the sea, never to be seen again…
Then, as you and your neighbors are taking shelter on the temple grounds… you hear a voice and see a man clothed in a white robe descending out of heaven. It is a dazzling display.
He… says, “I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world” (3 Nephi 11:10).
There he is! He is the focus of every fireside and… family home evening held by those Nephites for the last six hundred years. Everyone has talked of him and sung of him and dreamed of him and prayed — but here he actually is.
What a moment [you think] !.. Of all the messages that he could share… what has he brought to us?
He speaks: I am the light and the life of the world; . . . I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me. . . I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
That is it. Just a few lines…
And . . . when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth” (Obedience: Submitting to The Will of the Father)
It’s normal at Christmas time to speak of Jesus, of his humble birth in the stable and the arrival of wise men bringing gifts.
We can also talk about the gifts Jesus gave to us: the gift of hope, the gift of agency, the gift of repentance.
Jesus did so much during his short time on earth, he went “forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.”
What didn’t Jesus do?
Today, however, as we approach the holiday celebrating His birth, I’d like to speak for a moment on the one thing Jesus didn’t do during his life.
In the Book of John, the Savior tells his disciples “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”
Christ, unlike every other human that has ever walked the earth, never acted according to his own best interests.
Even in the hardest moment of his life, while suffering the pain of every individual in every generation, “He fell to His face in the Garden of Gethsemane, and asked, ‘Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done’” (Luke 22:42).
Perhaps this is why, when greeting the Nephite saints at the temple Bountiful for the first time, he focused first on sacrifice, not triumph; on what he had been willing to give, instead of what he received.
What’s the one thing we can do this Christmas?
Jesus’ proclamation this Christmas “I have suffered the will of the Father in all things” is a reminder to us all that the greatest gift we can give our Heavenly Father this Christmas season is the gift of ourselves.
As Elder Holland reminds us: “[In this life] it will be required of each of us to kneel when we may not want to kneel, to bow when we may not want to bow…we must be willing to place all that we have — not just our possessions (they may be the easiest things of all to give up), but also our ambition and pride and stubbornness and vanity — we must place it all on the altar of God, kneel there in silent submission, and willingly walk away.”
Seeing the Savior in my growing boys
Five years ago my wife and I had the feeling we should sell off everything and come live abroad.
The decision was easy for Marisa and me. It was something we felt strongly about, something we wanted to do because we knew how much it could help our boys become better people than we were at their age.
But there are many days when it is not easy for our boys. They miss family, they miss friends. Some days all they want is to go back.
They sacrifice their will to ours daily, and, as I quietly watch them, I am amazed to see four magnificent young men growing up in our home.
In John 17:3 the Savior says “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
I have learned over the years that, to know Christ, means to become like him. What I see in my boys is a realization of this scripture. They are kind to everyone they see, they love to make new friends, they are generous with what they have and easily give to others.
They may not recognize it, but through their sacrifices, they are becoming as kind, as caring, and as generous as the Savior. I am sure he is so proud of them this Christmas. I am so proud of them this Christmas.
My boys, like the rest of us, are trying their best to be like Jesus. In return, Heavenly Father promises us the greatest gift of all this Christmas and every day: the gift of eternal life.
Thanks for reading!
My name is Dave Smurthwaite, I’m a husband, father of four amazing boys, owner of a 16-year-old puppy, and an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The views expressed above represent my personal path of faith. I’m eager to hear about your path.
If you’re interested in contributing please email me. You can also follow our family of eight as we’ve embarked on a journey of self-discovery, living in Spain, Rwanda, Vietnam, and Colombia over the next year. Find our stories here or Instagram (IG ID: @thesmurthwaites)
