While reading the words of Jacob in 2 Nephi, chapter 9, I came across this line:
..it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him. (verse 5)
I’m not sure I understand this. Jesus became subject to man by letting himself by ridiculed, beaten and killed by humans. He is not the source of our dying, since mortal death came as a result of the fall.
Yet, by using the word ‘subject’ in both circumstances, Jacob seems to imply there is a similar subjection. As Jesus was subject to man, so must we be subject to Him.
He descended below all things so that all would be subject unto Him.
When we think of condescension can there be anything greater than what He did?
The prevailing modern attitude seems to be that submitting oneself to the will of another is ultimately demeaning. But Christ shows that to achieve the ultimate in knowledge, power and glory, we must yield up our will to him, just as he yielded up his will to his Father. As Neal Maxwell reminded us, our will is the only thing we really have, and the only thing we can give God.