Raiding With Jesus Part One: Meet the Tank

WoW Paladin Tank

If you expect to make it through a dungeon in World of Warcraft without constantly dieing, it is vital for your group to have a good tank. For those that are less familiar with the game, a tank  is very similar to a tank outside of the game. It is one of the first things that gets shot at (because its a very big threat), and it has a bunch of armor to go through for it to be hurt. Tanks take the hits for the rest of the group, so that others don't have to worry about getting roflstomped. The tanking classes in WoW are warriors, paladins, druids, and death knights. Within a usual 5-man group there will also be a healer, and three dps (these will be addressed in later parts of the series). 


Tanks literally take upon themselves the physical ailments of those they serve and group with...
Instead of taking crushing blows and cleaves, other players are left to spam dps rotations and focus on healing. Similarly, our Savior Jesus Christ took upon himself our pains, ailments, afflictions, and infirmities so that we ourselves would not have to suffer through them. A scripture from Alma 7:11-13 (in the Book of Mormon), speaking on the Atonement of Jesus Christ states: 

11. And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

13. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane

I know that Christ has taken upon himself the pains of both you and I and the whole world. He is there to be our tank and take those hits for us. If we rely on him we can overcome the physical challenges that we face in life. If we have ever been sick, Christ has felt that. If we have ever been hit and bruised, Christ has felt that as well. Not only has he felt these things, but he knows how to succor (help) us. I know that if we follow him, we will be able to overcome the damage that comes into our lives. He is truly the best tank that we can ask for!