Happy Easter Sunday. Today’s post is the final in the www.facebook.com/mormon (www.mormon.org) series discussing the week in Christ’s life before Easter.
Today, John Chapter 20 – He is not here, for He is Risen.
I’ve learned so much from this week, and it has been an amazing blessing to share it with each of you. I hope you have enjoyed your Easter week, and was able to spend some time today with your families.
Jesus’s body lay in the tomb. A large stone was put in front of the door. The wicked priests asked Pilate to have guards stand outside the tomb to make sure no one went inside.
As Christ’s body lay in the tomb those days, many wept. Some may have had doubt. Some feared that they’d be persecuted for following Him. Some had hope. Some had faith. Some waited patiently. As Latter Day Saints, we believe that the people in the Americas experienced three days of darkness and mourning. (3 Nephi 8)
Another word on Easter. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. I just finished dying eggs with the kids, and am preparing to stuff the plastic eggs after the kids go to bed. But first – we’ll be reading the Easter story to them and discussing the significance of the day.
I actually enjoy the commercial aspect of Easter. I enjoy the commercial aspect of Christmas too. There are a few reasons – the joy I see on my children’s faces is unmatched, for one thing. Mostly, however I enjoy the many teaching opportunities I have during these two seasons to point out the significance of the symbols used in celebrating.
Eggs, for instance, represent a new life. Easter Lilies are white and represent purity – just as Christ was Pure. The Lamb is representative of the Lamb of God. The Easter Dress, or the wearing of new clothes is also a symbol of new life. The rabbit or bunny represents abundant new life, a symbol that Christ’s victory over death can be shared abundantly. The giving and receiving of gifts can represent the gift He gives us all.
I do not personally believe the commercial aspects of any holiday are bad in their entirety. Anything that causes my children to think about something in a different light, or enables them to ask questions and seek truth are not bad things.
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost, Ye may know the truth of all things.”
Moroni 10:5.
Jesus was taken to the high priest, Caiaphas. His disciple Peter denied he knew Him. Jesus was then questioned by the governor, Pilate, and by King Herod. He was condemned to die on the cross. Jesus was crucified. A rich man named Joseph of Arimathæa laid Jesus in his tomb. Jesus’s mother, Mary, and Mary Magdalene visited the tomb.
I think this day is the hardest of all for me to express my thoughts. Every year of my life, and as far back as I can remember – my parents used to sit us all down to watch Ben Hur. And every year of my life, as far back as I can remember, I’ve always had a hard time viewing the scene where Christ is marched through the streets in a crown of thorns, carrying His cross. The whole scene makes me very emotional – and just picturing it in my head now is bringing uncontrolled tears to my eyes.
It is hard for me to watch.
Why?
The treatment He endured was unkind, and inhuman. It was cruel and torturous. No man should have to endure such pain, mockery and humiliation. It would be hard enough He was just an ordinary man, a common criminal of the day led to his execution (as that is what they did with criminals) but He was no ordinary man. He was no common criminal. He is Jesus Christ, son of the Living God, and He is my brother. And, He did this willingly.
Passover started and Jesus told His disciples that one of them would betray Him. He then introduced the sacrament to them. Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to suffer for our sins and pray mightily to God. Angry priests and townspeople came to arrest Him. The disciples fled in fear.
Images of this day – the Third day before Easter…The Last Supper. Gethsemane. The Betrayal.
When I first started this project I thought it would be a good way for me to study, engross myself in my scriptures, and write down my thoughts as I learn. I had no idea that the journey would lead me to a place of self discovery that I had before thought already existed.
This week as I started posting the series from www.mormon.org – the week before Easter – Christ’s week – I began to really search introspectively. I’ve found myself thinking a lot about His sacrifice, His last weeks, His thoughts, His moments. He knew what it all was for. He understood. He was willing. And He did it all for me.
So today when I went to search for the post on Mormon.org and prepared to share it with all of you, I was not prepared for the rush of emotions that came with reading the following line:
Although the scriptures don’t say what Jesus did on this day, we can imagine He spent the day with His disciples, perhaps telling the parable of the ten virgins. See Matthew 25:1-13.
He had to have known the end of his ministry on this Earth at that time was coming to an end. He had to have known what was coming. So what exactly what was this day spent doing? Cherishing time with friends and family. Teaching a few more important lessons. Time in study and in prayer. Just time.
How exactly does one prepare for something like suffering for the sins of the world? Did He prepare his family? What did He say to his mother? We know that at one moment in Gethsemane He asked that if possible remove this cup – but not as I will as Thou will…did He think about the possible suffering that He would endure during this Fourth day before Easter? Did He know just how short His time was?
Did He know that one day, we’d all be sitting here – reading a blog on the internet wondering if what we do from day to day is enough to honor His sacrifice.
Via Mormon.org: On the Fifth day before Easter, Jesus taught in the temple, and on the Mount of Olives. He taught by parable that if ye are prepared ye shall not fear. And then, Judas – one of his disciples betrayed him for 30 silver coins.
30 Silver coins.
I realize that was a lot of money then. In fact, it’s a lot of money even now. I also understand the betrayal was part of the grander plan. But to think about it, even in the simplest terms – 30 silver coins to betray a friend, let alone the Savior of the World…it just doesn’t seem enough.
I’ve been thinking a lot this past week about who I would be in Jesus’ story. Would I be like Mary who doubted Him not, would I have been in the multitude listening to His teachings, would I have been one of the persecutors?
It’s easy in these times for me to say that I would have defended Him. I would have hoped to gather at His feet. I would have learned of His teachings. I would have loved Him then as I do now. It’s easy for me to say that, knowing what I know to be true of Him. But when I take a look at my life today – how would I react to the Savior, the Son of God? How DO I honor His teachings, His sacrifice… Would I be there to wash His feet, or would I turn him over for 30 silver coins.
I suppose the answer lies in how I do live my life. Each day do I try to live as a disciple of Christ would live? Do I help a stranger when I see the need? Do I carry his image in my countenance? Do I think of Him in everything I do? Do I forgive others? Do I make amends? Do I live my life in a way that would make Him proud?
I try to. I really do.
There are many things that could amount to 30 pieces of silver. I could betray my beliefs. I could give up on living the Word of Wisdom. I could do things that I know are not in line with my beliefs or standard set forth by the teachings of the church. I could. But, that to me would be exactly like selling my friend, my Brother – for 30 pieces of silver.
I have made a promise, a commitment to hold true to these standards, hold to the rod, and to seek Him in all things. I’ve been taught to always keep my promises. I try to teach my children the same thing. Keeping promises made to a loving Father in Heaven just as you would keep promises made to a friend is not weird. I don’t even think it’s peculiar.
Today Mormon.org posted the 6th day before Easter. This was the day that Jesus went to the Temple and found many merchants and people buying and selling things. It was then that he said, “Is it not written, My house shall be called... the house of prayer? But Ye have made it a den of thieves.”
I don’t think I ever fully understood the significance of this event. As I read it the first time I remember being somewhat shocked at the outburst of emotion from my Savior. As it says in Matthew 21 – he overthrew tables and chairs of the merchants.
Because I am a member of generation x – and because my entire life I’ve been surrounded by rich media – the only image that comes to mind when I hear that he stormed in and overthrew tables and chairs is that of a former basketball coach who in frustration flung chairs across the court in the general direction of the referees.
I have a really hard time imagining my Savior – my Brother – pulling a Bobby Knight. That is simply not the gentle, kind and understanding man I’ve been introduced to through my life and study.
And yet, it happened. The bible tells us so.
So why was he so frustrated, so upset – so angry?
As I understand it, there were two types of money in those times. Regular money, and temple money. Regular money was not to be exchanged within the temple, however it was necessary to make purchases for the sacrifices made (remember, this was when they still practiced the sacrifices to God). So, what happened was the regular money was exchanged for temple money, which was then used inside the temple for purchases of animals for sacrifice. It had become common practice that the priests who ran the temple would short change the money exchange – causing the temple currency to be worth half of what the regular money was. So a dove that would cost 1.00 in the regular market, for instance, would end up costing 2.00 within the temple. The priests were basically stealing the money from those who came to worship in the ways of their fathers.
With this understanding, it makes sense that Christ would be angry. He wasn’t frustrated at the money changing hands – He was mad at the fact that they were using it as a way to cheat the people.
Christ is a protective older brother enforcing the rules in His Father’s house.
On this the 6th day before Easter, the priests became angry. They began to question him. They sought to lay hands on him…but did not this day – for they feared the crowd would protect Him.
So the question I ask of myself – would I have been there to protect Him. I certainly hope that I would.
Today, from www.mormon.org – Palm Sunday.
On Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem from Bethany on a donkey. People recognized Him as their King shouting, “Hosanna,” and laying palm leaves in front of the donkey to keep dust off the Savior. He visited the temple and then returned to Bethany.
From www.mormon.org on Facebook
The Gospel According to St. Matthew – Chapter 21.
1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2Saying unto them, Go into the village aover against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
3And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy aKing cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
6And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
7aAnd brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, aHosanna to the Son of David: bBlessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11And the amultitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
12¶And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13And said unto them, It is written, My ahouse shall be called the house of bprayer; but ye have made it a cden of thieves.
14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
15And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the achildren crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
16And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
17¶And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
18Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19And when he saw a fig tree ain the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no bfruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And cpresently the fig tree withered away.
20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have afaith, and bdoubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this cmountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22And all athings, whatsoever ye shall bask in cprayer, believing, ye shall receive.
23¶And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what aauthority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
24And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what aauthority I do these things.
25The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
26But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a aprophet.
27And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
28¶But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go awork to day in my vineyard.
29He answered and said, aI will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and awent bnot.
31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32For John came unto you in the way of arighteousness, and ye bbelieved him not: but the cpublicans and the harlots believed him: dand ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
33¶aHear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to bhusbandmen, and went into a far country:
34And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35And the husbandmen took his aservants, and bbeat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the aheir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his avineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The astone which the builders brejected, the same is become the head of the ccorner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43Therefore say I unto you, The akingdom of God shall be btaken from you, and cgiven to a dnation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44aAnd whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
45aAnd when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
Believe it or not I do get asked often if Mormons celebrate or recognize Easter. When I answer "Of Course we do.” the first response is usually - “No, I mean the REAL Easter – the celebration of the resurrection of Christ.”
“Oh THAT Easter? I thought you were talking about bunnies and Cadburry eggs.”
(Sorry, there is this portion of me that was born sarcastic. Most know this about me and embrace me for it.)
The truth is, absolutely we do. Christ was resurrected that we might live again. We most definitely celebrate Easter.
So, today I found this very cool series produced by www.mormon.org. Beginning today, 4/16/2011 through Easter Sunday, they will focus on the week before Christ’s resurrection. I’m not sure what messages each video or thought will focus on, but I am very excited for the lessons and thoughts that will be taught and shared about this most crucial event.
The first video brought tears to my eyes (weird, I know.) I have always gotten that way when I read about, hear talks about, or discuss the sacrifices He made for me. I am forever grateful for the atonement, for the love I know He has for me, for the patience, kindness and mercy He freely gives to all.
“One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path, we do not have to.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
