"He Is Risen"

Note: This year, Sister Linford and I were asked to speak during our ward’s Easter Sacrament Meeting. Her remarks are presented here. Mine will be posted tomorrow. Happy Easter to all.

The two major earthquakes that recently occurred in this hemisphere, should remind us of the counsel found in the Doctrine and Covenants 38:30, “...if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.” Even though the events of the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ were foretold throughout the ages by a number of the prophets of the Old Testament as well as of the Book of Mormon, when they happened in fact, they came as a big surprise to many.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ himself quoted the prophets on several occasions concerning his death and his resurrection. His detractors apparently had heard and understood him as is evidenced by their mockery using His own words as He hung on the cross (Matthew 27:40). But how did his close followers and particularly His disciples react? When the time of His crucifixion drew closer, Jesus tried to prepare His disciples for the day on which they would witness His crucifixion and His death on the cross. He wanted them to understand that He would be dead only for a short time, and that He would rise again on the third day. Did His disciples understand His words? Their behavior as recorded in the Bible would indicate, that they had not understood the Lord’s message.

Is there a lesson in this for us concerning another much prophesied event yet to come namely, the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Should we be on the earth when He comes again, would we understand the meaning of the signs and destructive events preceding His appearance? Would we be prepared and not fear, or would we be confused and unable to function? Would we be excited and rejoice in anticipation of the Lord’s impending appearance, or would we lack confidence and be unbelieving?

What did happen on that momentous “first day of the week” outside of the walls of Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago? The Bible tells us that Mary Magdalene together with other women went to the tomb bringing “sweet spices that they may come and anoint him” (Mark 16:1). Upon their arrival at the tomb, they were perplexed and astonished when they discovered that Jesus was not in the tomb; it was empty except for two angels who addressed them with the following words: ” Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6). “…[R]emember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of Man must be delivered unto the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again” (Luke 24:6-7).

The women were very frightened and fled the sepulcher. They ran to tell the disciples. Mary Magdalene reached the disciples first, but she could only recall part of what they had been told by the angels. The key words namely, “He is risen” had eluded her, and all she could report was that the tomb was empty. The disciples considered Mary Magdalene’s report as “idle tales” and “believed her not” (Luke 24:11). However, Peter and John together with Mary Magdalene rushed to the tomb and found it indeed empty; they saw no angels. Peter and John left disappointed and concerned wondering what may have happened to Jesus’ body. As Mary Magdalene stayed behind and lingered at the sepulcher a little longer, her faith was rewarded. This most profound and magnificent event that followed is recorded in John 20:11-16:

“But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher,

And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”

Mary Magdalene was the first person to whom the risen Lord had appeared (Mark 16:9). After she recognized Jesus, she apparently had taken a step towards him, but He gently restraint her by saying, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascended unto my Father and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17). Then Mary went back to the disciples and happily reported that she had seen the Lord and that He had talked to her, but she sadly noticed that they believed her not (Mark 16:11).

When the resurrected Lord appeared in the midst of the disciples for the first time that same evening, he knew they had not understood and did not believe. Therefore, he invited them to come and feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet. He also asked them to give him something to eat so that they would believe and know that he was not a spirit but that he had risen from the tomb and had a body of flesh and bones. And after all that, the Bible states, “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20).

One disciple by the name of Thomas was not present when the risen Lord had appeared to the other disciples. When they told Thomas that they had seen the Lord, he was as unbelieving as they had been at first. Finally, when Thomas came face to face with the risen Lord, He said to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless but believing” (John 20:27). We cannot imagine what Thomas must have felt at that moment. Overwhelmed, he only uttered “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Then answered Jesus, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

John reported further that Christ did many signs in the presence of the disciples “which are not written in this book.” However, what He said to Thomas, is written in this book for one important purpose namely, “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).

This is my personal belief and my testimony.

Erika J. Linford