In a sermon
dated 17 February 1856, Brigham Young affirmed the traditional interpretation
of Matt 27:46/Mark 15:34 (i.e., that the Father did withdraw his spirit from
the Son on the cross):
God never bestows upon His people, or upon an
individual, superior blessings without a severe trial to prove them, to prove
that individual, or that people, to see whether they will keep their covenants
with Him, and keep in remembrance what He has shown them. Then the greater the
vision, the greater the display of the power of the enemy. And when such
individuals are off their guard they are left to themselves, as Jesus was. For
this express purpose the Father withdrew His spirit from His Son, at the time
he was to be crucified. Jesus had been with his Father, talked with Him, dwelt
in His bosom, and knew all about heaven, about making the earth, about the
transgression of man, and what would redeem the people, and that he was the
character who was to redeem the sons of earth, and the earth itself from all
sin that had come upon it. The light, knowledge, power, and glory with which he
was clothed were far above, or exceeded that of all others who had been upon
the earth after the fall, consequently at the very moment, at the hour when the
crisis came for him to offer up his life, the Father withdrew Himself, withdrew
His Spirit, and cast a vail over him. That is what made him sweat blood. If he
had had the power of God upon him, he would not have sweat blood; but all was
withdrawn from him, and a veil was cast over him, and he then plead with the
Father not to forsake him." No," says the Father, "you must have
your trials, as well as others." (JOD 3:205-6)
What is also
interesting is that Brigham locates Jesus' sweating of blood, not in Gethsemane
in the above, but on the cross.
For more on
the Father abandoning Jesus on the cross, see:
Was
Jesus Abandoned by God on the Cross?
Andrew
Skinner on the Father's Withdrawal from the Son (Matthew 27:46)
