Alma and Amulek as Types of Christ, Part 2

The narrative continues: "And the people went forth testifying against them – testifying that they had reviled against the law…and [had stated] that there was but one God, and that he should send his Son among the people, but he should not save them…. Now this was done before the chief judge of the land" (Alma 14:5). The Savior faced a similar experience: "Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days… And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy" (Matthew 26:55-66).

When forced to watch the awful burning of the innocent women and children, Amulek stated (after he had asked if they could save those being burned), "Behold, perhaps they will burn us also." Alma replied, "Be it according to the will of the Lord" (Alma 14:13). The Savior made a similar statement in submitting His will to the Father's in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). Alma continued, "But, behold, our work is not finished" (Alma 14:13). The Lord had stated earlier in His life, "My time is not yet come [my work is not finished]" (John 7:6) but when he was crucified, His mortal work was finished (John 19:30).

Alma and Amulek were taken before the chief judge of the land, who "smote them with his hand upon their cheeks" (Alma 14:14). The Savior likewise was smitten, "And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him" (Luke 22:63). "And when he [the Savior] had thus spoken, one of the officers [of the High Priest] which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand" (John 18:22). The chief judge, when seeing that Alma and Amulek did nothing to save the women and children stated, "Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save those who had been cast into the fire; neither has God saved them because they were of thy faith" (Alma 14:15). The Savior was similarly mocked, "And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him...saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.... And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us" (Luke 23: 35-37,39). What those who mocked the Savior did not understand was that through His death He was bringing salvation from death for all and salvation from hell for all who follow Him.