The Gospel of Jesus Christ: Easter Week Day by Day by Cara Smith Webber

Easter Week

Day by Day

by Cara Smith Webber

This series of books is inspired by the desire to bring the real meaning of Easter into the lives of

our families, particularly into the hearts of our children—to help it become real to them. It is

patterned after the final week of the Savior’s life, starting with His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

on Palm Sunday and ending with his glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is designed so that

a family may gather their children and sit together each day of that Easter week, and read the corresponding book- reliving the events of the very first Easter. My hope is that it will help

families focus on, and children understand, the real meaning of Easter.

Day 1: Hosanna

Palm Sunday

Easter is a special holiday because it is when we remember and celebrate that Jesus died for us and then was resurrected, or came alive again. Jesus did many things the week before he was resurrected. These books tell the stories, one day at a time, of what happened to him. This first book starts on Palm Sunday, one week before Easter Sunday.

It was a beautiful spring day in Jerusalem. Jesus was visiting his friends—two sisters named Mary and Martha, as well as their brother Lazarus—who lived in Bethany. He wanted to be near Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.

The Feast of the Passover was very special. It was a time when all the Jews would celebrate and remember something amazing that happened many years before, when the prophet Moses was alive. You see, there was a terrible sickness in the land and Moses taught the people that the only way they could be safe from it was to put the blood of a lamb across the top of their front door. All the people who believed Moses and did what he said were saved from the sickness. The Jews called that amazing event the Passover, because the sickness passed over their homes and didn’t come in. And every year, the Jews would remember that miracle by having a great feast, or dinner, called the Feast of the Passover. At that feast, they would eat a lamb, to remind them of the lamb’s blood that was used to save their people so long ago.

It was Sunday, just a few days before the Passover feast, and Jesus left his friends’ house to spend some time in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was a big city. It had lots and lots of people. Jerusalem also had a temple. The temple was a holy, special place where righteous people worshipped Heavenly Father and promised to do what was right. Some of Jesus’ disciples were going with him on the walk from Bethany to Jerusalem. Disciples are people like you and me who believe in Jesus—who understand that he is the Savior and the Son of God. Jesus had twelve disciples who were extra special. He had asked them to help him teach the people and to do miracles to bless others. They were called apostles.

So Jesus and a group of disciples and apostles walked to Jerusalem together. It wasn’t too far of a walk- less than three miles. If you or I walked that far, it would take us about an hour. As they were walking, Jesus asked two of his apostles, Peter and John, to run ahead to a small village close by. He said that when they got there, they would see a donkey tied to a post. He told them to untie the donkey and bring it to him. At first, Peter and John were a little nervous about taking someone’s donkey without asking. But Jesus told them that if someone asked them what they were doing, they should say that Jesus needed it, and then it would be okay.

The two apostles went into the small village. Right away they saw a donkey tied to a post, just like Jesus said. Peter and John were amazed that Jesus knew the donkey would be there. While they were untying it, a man came out and asked them what they were doing. They told him Jesus needed it. The man understood and said it was fine for them to take it. Again, the two apostles were amazed that Jesus knew what was going to happen. They knew Jesus was the Son of God.

Peter and John brought the donkey to Jesus, and he rode it as they continued their walk. By then, they were really close to Jerusalem and more and more people were finding out that Jesus was coming. They had heard about his miracles, and they wanted to come and see him.

As Jesus rode into the streets of Jerusalem, people came from all around to see him. They took palm leaves from the nearby trees. Some of them waved the palm leaves, just like they would when a king came into their city. Other people put the palm leaves on the ground so the donkey carrying Jesus wouldn’t have to step on the dirty ground. They knew Jesus was so special that even his donkey should have a beautiful, clean place to walk. Some people even took off their shawls and their robes and put them on the ground for the donkey to walk on, to show how much they loved Jesus. And while all this was happening, the people kept shouting “Hosanna!”

Hosanna is a special word. It is only something you say when you want to praise God and worship Him and ask Him to save you. When they shouted “hosanna”, it showed that they believed he was the Savior. They knew he was the Son of God and that he was coming to save them. If he didn’t save them, they couldn’t go to heaven. You see, there is a law that you can only be with Heavenly Father again if you are perfect—if you’ve never made a mistake or a bad choice before. But all of us make mistakes and bad choices sometimes, so none of us could ever go back to heaven to be with Heavenly Father. The people knew that Heavenly Father had promised to send someone—a Savior—who would save us from the law. Someone who was perfect—the only one who never ever made a mistake. Someone who would take away our mistakes and bad choices if we would repent—and then it would be like we were perfect. If we could be forgiven and be made perfect, then we could live with Heavenly Father again. The people believed that Jesus was that person- that he was the Savior who would save them from the law so they could live with Heavenly Father again. But they really didn’t understand how Jesus was going to do that.

Can you imagine what it was like to be there? To be on the street with so many other people and to hear that Jesus was coming! It must have been so exciting! And then to hear the people yelling “hosanna!” Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to yell “hosanna” too? To tell Jesus that you know he’s the Savior! To tell him how much you love him and how thankful you are that he’s going to save you so you can go to heaven again!

Other people in the city saw what was happening. They saw that someone was coming, riding on a donkey, and that all the people around him were acting like he was a king. So they asked who he was. His disciples explained that he was Jesus from Nazareth. There were wicked men in Jerusalem, too. Some of those wicked men belonged to a group called the Pharisees, who were experts in the law of the Jewish church. The Pharisees were worried that the people would love Jesus and follow him, and then no one would listen to them anymore. The Pharisees didn’t think that Jesus was the Savior. And they didn’t like that the people were treating him like a king. They called out to Jesus and told him to stop the people from treating him this way. Jesus answered that if his disciples didn’t act that way, the very stones would cry out. This means that even the Earth—the plants and animals and dirt and stones—knew that Jesus was the Savior of the world. That’s how important and wonderful Jesus is.

Once Jesus had come into Jerusalem, he and his disciples did many things. One of the things they did was go to the see the temple. When they were there, Jesus looked around at what was happening there. There were lots of people there—people who were lying and cheating, who were not treating the temple as a special and holy place. This made Jesus sad. After Jesus saw what was happening at the temple, he and his disciples went back to Bethany so Jesus could spend the night at Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ home again.

Day 1 References

The Feast of the Passover is defined

Eric D. Huntsman, “Reflections on the Savior’s Last Week,” Ensign, Apr 2009, 57.

“In recalling the ancient Israelites’ deliverance from bondage in Egypt, the Passover festival focused in particular on Israel’s deliverance from the angel of death. During the yearly celebration the priests sacrificed the paschal lamb in remembrance of the unblemished animal whose blood saved the children of Israel and whose flesh was now eaten as part of a festive meal.”

Jesus stays with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany

John 12:1-2 “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.”

Daniel H. Ludlow, "The Greatest Week in History." Ensign Apr 1972, 34.

“…[T]he Savior left the small village of Bethany, where he had spent the Sabbath with his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus…”

Jesus leaves Bethany with a group of disciples and goes to Jerusalem less than three miles away

Daniel H. Ludlow, "The Greatest Week in History." Ensign Apr 1972, 34.

“On this particular Sunday, the first day of the greatest week in history, the Savior left the small village of Bethany, where he had spent the Sabbath with his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and ascended the slopes leading towards Jerusalem, less than three miles away.”

Author’s note: Jesus sends two disciples to find the donkey, so we know he was travelling with a small group of disciples

Two disciples are sent for the donkey and they obey

Luke 19:28-34 “And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

“And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Jesus…”

See also- Matt. 21:1-7, Mark 11:1-7, John 12:14-16

Jesus sits upon the donkey as they enter Jerusalem

Mark 11:7, 11 “And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him…And Jesus entered into Jerusalem…”

Crowds came because they heard of the miracles of Jesus

John 12:17-18 “The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.”

People wave palm leaves and place leaves and clothing on ground, treating Jesus like a king

Matt. 21:8 “And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.”

Michaelene P. Grassli, “Children at Peace,” Ensign, Nov 1988, 78.

“They spread their clothes and tree branches on the ground for the donkey to walk on, like they did for kings, and they waved palm leaves in the air. They cried ‘Hosanna to the Son of David … Hosanna in the highest.’”

Eric D. Huntsman, “Reflections on the Savior’s Last Week,” Ensign, Apr 2009, 54–55.

“While a donkey does not seem to be a regal mode of transportation to modern readers, Old Testament kings, especially David, commonly rode donkeys. Furthermore, the prophet Zechariah had specifically foretold that the messianic king would come in this fashion (see Zechariah 9:9). The waving of tree branches is often associated with Sukkot, the autumn Festival of Tabernacles that commemorates the wandering of the children of Israel in the wilderness. Once they were in the promised land, however, this festival emphasized the harvest but was also associated with the coronation of Israelite kings.”

See also- Mark 11:8, Luke 19:36, John 12:12-13

The meaning of Hosanna

hosanna. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved June 11, 2009, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hosanna

Hosanna- A shout of fervent and worshipful praise. An exclamation, originally an appeal to God for deliverance, used in praise of God or Christ.

Bible Dictionary, Holy Bible, KJV, Hosanna- save us

Daniel H. Ludlow, “The Greatest Week in History,” Ensign, Apr 1972, 34.

“Matthew records that ‘a very great multitude’ had come out to greet the Master, spreading their garments and the branches of trees before him and crying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.’ (Matt. 21:8–9.)

“All of these acts were symbols of respect, and the use of the title ‘Son of David’ indicated that the multitude accepted the Savior as the long-awaited Messiah, for this was the sacred title reserved for the Messiah.”

See also- Matt. 21:9, Mark 11:9-10, Luke 19:37-38, John 12:13

People ask who Jesus is

Matt. 21:10-11 “And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”

Pharisees are experts at Jewish law

The Holy Bible, [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979], Bible Dictionary, 750.

Pharisees- A religious party among the Jews…They prided themselves on their strict observance of the law…

Pharisees are worried

John 12:19 “The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.”

The Pharisees tell Jesus not to let the people act that way and Jesus answers that if they didn’t, the very stones would cry out

Luke 19:39-40 “And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Jesus looks around temple, sees people lying and cheating, and then returns to Bethany

Mark 11:11 “And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.”

Author’s note: Because Jesus returns the following day to cleanse the temple of the apparent dishonesty, we know that what he observed today was unsatisfactory.

Day 2: The Temple

Monday

On Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey. The people of Jerusalem came flocking to see him and treated him like a king. They waved palm leaves in the air and put leaves and clothing on the ground for his donkey to walk on. Once Jesus had entered Jerusalem, one of the things he and his disciples did was visit the temple. He came away feeling sad because of all the bad things that were happening there.

Jesus had spent the night in Bethany, and was ready to go up to Jerusalem on Monday morning. He and his disciples walked there together. On their way, Jesus felt hungry, so he started looking for a fig tree so he could pick some figs to eat. Figs are a kind of fruit that is round and green. You can always tell if a fig tree has fruit because it will be full of leaves. Before long, Jesus saw a fig tree that had lots of leaves! He was glad because he was quite hungry. When he got to the tree and started to look for figs, he was surprised. There were no figs on it! The tree was supposed to have figs—that was its job. By growing leaves, it was pretending that it had fruit, too. But it didn’t. It made everyone think it was doing its job, but it really wasn’t.

Jesus knew that wasn’t right. It made him think about what he had seen in the temple the day before. The people who worked in the temple were pretending to do what was right—to worship Heavenly Father and take care of the temple, but really they were lying and cheating. Jesus knew that wasn’t right, either. Jesus looked down at the fig tree once more. He said that the fig tree would never grow figs on it again. And then the fig tree withered away. It would never trick anyone again.

When Jesus and his disciples arrived in Jerusalem, they went straight to the temple. Jesus was in charge of the temple because it was the house of God and he was the Son of God. Jesus knew the people there weren’t doing what was right. He wanted them to stop. Jesus looked around the temple grounds. He saw people selling animals and trading money with each other. The men who were selling and trading were cheating. They were taking more money from people than was fair. These men were chief priests who worked in the temple. They were supposed to be examples of what was right. They were supposed to be in charge of making sure the temple stayed a holy, special place. But instead, they were lying and cheating.

When Jesus saw all those things happening in his Father’s house, he felt sad. He also felt angry that people were treating such a special place with so much disrespect! They weren’t doing what they knew was right. They weren’t keeping the temple holy. Jesus needed to teach them that what they were doing was very wrong. He went over to where the men were trading money. He pushed over the tables so they couldn’t trade money anymore! Then he went over to where they were selling animals. He knocked over the chairs of the sellers, so they couldn’t sell animals anymore! Then he told the men who were trading money and selling animals to leave, because they didn’t belong in the temple. He told them that the temple was supposed to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves. The men did what Jesus told them to do. They left.

After they left, other people came to the temple—people who were blind and couldn’t see and who were lame and couldn’t walk. They had very sad lives, and it was hard for them to get around. They came to Jesus because they knew he could heal them. Jesus loved them. He made the blind people see and the lame people walk. He healed everyone that came to him. The people were filled with love for Jesus.

Imagine if you had been one of those people—if you had been blind and had never seen anything your whole life, even when you were a baby. You wouldn’t have known what your mom and dad’s faces looked like. You wouldn’t have known what a rainbow or a flower or a tree looked like. You wouldn’t even have known what Jesus looked like. But you would have known that he could heal you. You would have known that if you went to him, he could fix your eyes so they would work. If you had been one of the people Jesus healed, you would never forget that day at the temple. It would be the most wonderful, beautiful day you had ever known!

The blind people and lame people weren’t the only ones at the temple. There were also some children there, watching the sick people be healed. They started to cry out, “Hosanna!” They knew Jesus was the Savior they had been waiting for. It must have been such a glorious day! The temple was made clean. All the wickedness was thrown out, and now only wonderful, beautiful things would happen there.

While all these amazing things were happening, the chief priests were watching from outside the temple. They were mad that Jesus made them leave. They thought of a plan to kill Jesus. They must have been so wicked if they wanted to kill Jesus. Jesus never did anything mean or wrong. He loved everyone. He even loved those wicked men, and he wanted them to repent. Jesus was perfect in every way.

Jesus stayed at the temple and taught the people until it was evening. Then he and his disciples left Jerusalem and walked back to Bethany.

Day 2 References

Jesus left Bethany in the morning, feeling hungry

Matt. 21:18 “Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.”

See also- Luke 21:3-4

Wicked men plan to kill Jesus

John 11:53 “Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.”

Jesus knew of their plan

The fact that Jesus shared the parable of the wicked husbandmen proves he knew of their intentions.

Day 4: The Mount of Olives

Wednesday

Jesus spent Tuesday and Wednesday teaching the people in the temple and instructing his disciples on the Mount of Olives. Yesterday we learned about what happened in the temple and the questions the different Jewish leaders asked him. He talked with the chief priests about John the Baptist. Then he told a story about a vineyard and some wicked husbandmen. Next the Pharisees asked him about the most important law in the scriptures. After the questions, Jesus noticed a poor widow paying her tithing. He taught the disciples that she was living the most important law by loving God with all her heart. Today we will learn what Jesus taught his disciples on the Mount of Olives.

Jesus loved spending time with his disciples. One of the places he liked to go was the Mount of Olives—not too far from Jerusalem—where they could be away from the crowds and he could teach them. Jesus also liked to go to the Mount of Olives by himself. He could look down from the hillside and see Jerusalem and the temple. He often thought and prayed there. After spending the day teaching and answering questions in the temple, he went up to the Mount of Olives to be alone.

The disciples had been listening to Jesus as he answered questions from different Jewish leaders at the temple. Jesus had told his disciples that he was going to leave them soon, but they also knew that he promised to come back one day. As they walked up to the Mount of Olives to join Jesus, the disciples wondered how they would know when Jesus was going to come again. The disciples joined Jesus on the hillside and asked him the things they had been wondering about. Jesus told them many things that would happen before he would come back to the earth. The world would be filled with wicked people and there would be a lot of fighting. Jesus also told them that before he came, there would be lots of sickness and earthquakes and famines.

But, there were wonderful things that would happen too. Jesus promised that all the righteous people would be safe. He also promised that before he came again, missionaries would fill the earth and everyone would have a chance to learn about the gospel. Jesus told his disciples that when he returns, he will come down in a cloud from heaven. Angels will be all around him, announcing his coming and gathering together all the righteous people from around the earth. Jesus said that everyone in the whole world will know when he comes—just like everyone can see the sun when it rises, they will all see the Savior when he comes. When Jesus comes again, the wicked people will be afraid because they will know they hadn’t obeyed. But the righteous people will rejoice and be happy because Jesus is finally back and he would be the King on the earth.

The disciples wanted to know when this would all happen. When would he come again? Jesus told them that they would always have to be ready. He wasn’t going to tell them exactly when he would come. Only Heavenly Father knows when that will happen. The disciples, and all people, need to be always trying to do what is right, so when Jesus comes, they will be happy.

Then Jesus told his disciples a story to help them remember to always be ready. It was about ten women who were invited to see a wedding. The celebration was happening late at night, and the women were waiting by the door to get into the wedding. It was very dark so they had small oil lamps in their hands that had a little fire, like a candle, to light their way. They had to wait by the door until the bridegroom—or the man getting married—came to the wedding and opened the door for all of them to go in.

It was a long time before the bridegroom came. They waited so long, that their lamps were running out of oil and their lights were burning out. Five of the women were very wise. They knew they might wait a long time before the bridegroom came to open the door, so they brought some extra oil, just in case their lamps started to burn out. The other five women were foolish. They didn’t think about how long they might have to wait. They weren’t prepared when their lamps burnt out. At first, the foolish women begged the wise women to share their oil. But the wise women couldn’t share because they needed the oil for their own lamps. They told the foolish women that they would have to go buy some more oil. So the five foolish women left to try and quickly find some more oil. But while they were gone, the bridegroom came and let the wise women in. The five foolish women had missed their chance. They weren’t ready when the bridegroom finally came.

The disciples understood that the wedding was like Jesus’ second coming and the ten women were like the members of his church. All ten women were waiting for the bridegroom, just like all of the members of his church are waiting for Jesus to come again. But five of the women were not ready when the bridegroom came, just like many members of his church won’t be ready when Jesus comes again. They won’t be trying their hardest to do what is right, even though they will know Jesus will be coming soon. The other five women will be watching and waiting, striving to do what Jesus taught. When he comes, they will rejoice.

Jesus also told his disciples that when he comes, all the righteous people will gather around him and he will explain to them why they made it to heaven. He will tell them:

When I was hungry, you gave me food to eat. And when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you took me into your home and took care of me. When I didn’t have enough clothes to keep me warm, you gave me some. When I was sick, you visited me so I wasn’t lonely. When I was in prison, you came to me and were my friend.

But the saints will be confused. Most of them never saw Jesus while they were living on the earth! They just read his words from the scriptures and tried to do what was right. The righteous saints would answer:

When did we do that? You never came to us when you were hungry, or cold, or sick!

And then the Savior will tell them–

Every time you helped someone, you were also helping me.

See, if Jesus was on the earth right now, he would be helping everyone he could who needs help. But Jesus isn’t on the earth anymore—he’s in heaven. And there are so many people on the earth who need help. Jesus couldn’t do it all himself. So he asks us to do it. When we help someone, we are helping Jesus by doing what he would do if he were here. We are serving Jesus when we serve others.

The disciples listened carefully to Jesus. They wanted to be ready when he came again. But they didn’t know that it would be a very long time before that happened. They would all die and go to heaven before Jesus would come again. Even though the disciples didn’t get to see Jesus come again, they tried hard to always be ready and obedient, just like the five wise women in the story. They also did their best to always help others. And because they remembered what Jesus taught and were always ready, when they died, they were able to go to heaven and be with Jesus there. And they are now waiting in heaven while other people live on the Earth and wait for Jesus to come again.

We are still waiting for Jesus to come today. Maybe we will be the lucky ones who will get to see him come down from heaven in a cloud! Can you imagine hearing the angels announcing his coming and then going with them to join all the righteous people and be with Jesus!? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

We will have to remember to always be ready for him, so that, when we do see him again, it will be as wonderful as we have imagined.

Day 4 References

Jesus went often to the Mount of Olives, with his disciples, as well as to be alone

Church Educational System, The Life and Teachings of Jesus and his Apostles, [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979], 152.

“It was on the Mount of Olives, or Olivet, where the Lord often held discourse with the apostles and disciples…”

Church Educational System, The Life and Teachings of Jesus and his Apostles, [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979], 139.

“According to tradition, when these words were spoken [Christ’s lament over Jerusalem], Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives…”

Jerusalem and the temple are seen from the Mount of Olives

Church Educational System, New Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2003], 32.

“Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives, where one can see the city of Jerusalem—and especially the temple.”

After spending the day teaching and answering questions in the temple, Jesus went up to the Mount of Olives to be alone

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:2, 4 “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple…And Jesus left [his disciples], and went upon the Mount of Olives.”

The disciples knew Jesus was going to leave them soon but also that he had promised to come back

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:1

“For I say unto you, that ye shall not see me henceforth and know that I am he of whom it is written by the prophets, until ye shall say: Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord, in the clouds of heaven, and all the holy angels with him. Then understood his disciples that he should come again on the earth, after that he was glorified and crowned on the right hand of God.”

The disciples joined Jesus on the hillside and ask him how they will know when we comes again

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:4 “And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying:...[W]hat is the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world…?”

The world will be filled with wicked people

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:10 “…[I]niquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

There will be lots of fighting

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:23 “…[Y]ou also shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars…”

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:29 “…[F]or nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…”

There will be lots of sickness and earthquakes and famines

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:29 “…[T]here shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places...”

Jesus promised that all the righteous people will be safe

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:11 “But he that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved.”

Luke 21:36 (including JST footnote) “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, and keep my commandments, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Missionaries will fill the earth and everyone will have a chance to hear the gospel

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:31 “…[T]his Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations…”

Mark 13:10 “And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”

Jesus will come down from heaven in a cloud

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:36 “…[T]hey shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”

Angels will be all around, announcing his coming

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:37 “…[H]e shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet…”

Angels will gather together all the righteous people

Mark 13:27 “And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.”

Everyone in the world will know when he comes—he is compared to the sun rising

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:26 “For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.”

The wicked people will be afraid when Jesus comes

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:54 “…[T]here shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Jesus will be the king on the earth

Articles of Faith 1:10 “…Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”

Jesus doesn’t tell them when he will come, but tells them to always be ready

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:46 “…watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come.”

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:48 “Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”

Only Heavenly Father knows when Christ will come again

Joseph Smith- Matthew 1:40 “But of that day, and hour, no one knoweth; no, not the angels of God in heaven, but my Father only.”

Jesus tells the story of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five werefoolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

The parable of the Ten Virgins refers to the saints at his second coming

Church Educational System, The Life and Teachings of Jesus and his Apostles, [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979], 154.

“The bridegroom of the parable was the Master, the Savior of mankind. The marriage feast symbolized the second coming of the Savior to receive his Church unto himself. The virgins were those who were professed believers in Christ, because they were expectantly waiting for the coming of the bridegroom to the marriage feast, or they were connected with the Church and the events which were to transpire with reference to it.”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Preparation for the Second Coming,” Ensign, May 2004, 7

“The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ’s Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came.”

At the second coming, the righteous will gather around Jesus and he will tell them that they helped him when he was in need

Matthew 25:31-36 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”

The saints will be confused

Matthew 25:37-39 “Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?”

Jesus explains that when we help others, we are helping him

Matthew 25:37-39 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

The disciples tried hard to be ready and obedient and to serve others

See remaining books in the New Testament (beginning with Acts)

Day 5: Gethsemane

Thursday

Yesterday, Jesus and his disciples sat on the Mount of Olives and talked about when he will come again to the earth. The disciples learned that there would be many storms and earthquakes, but the righteous people would be protected. Jesus told them he would come down from heaven in a cloud with angels announcing his coming. Then he told the story of the ten women with oil lamps who were waiting for the wedding. He reminded his disciples to always do what is right so they will be ready when he comes again. After two days in the temple and on the Mount of Olives, the day had finally come for the important Passover feast. This feast helped them remember hundreds of years before, during the time of Moses, when a terrible sickness passed over the homes of the faithful Jewish families.

Jesus didn’t live in Jerusalem, so he didn’t have a home where he could eat the Passover meal. The disciples asked Jesus where they should have the feast. Jesus told them to go into the city. There they would see a man holding a pitcher of water. Jesus told them to follow that man, and whatever house he went into, they should go talk to the owner of the house. They should ask the owner where the room was that Jesus could eat the Passover meal with his apostles. Peter and John, two of Jesus’ apostles, did what he asked. They went into Jerusalem, saw the man with the pitcher of water, and followed him to a house where they spoke to the owner. The owner took them to a big upper room. Peter and John stayed there and got the room ready for the feast. They made sure they had the special foods for the Passover feast—the roasted lamb, unleavened cakes, bitter herbs, and a dish with vinegar in it. When it was evening time, Jesus and the other apostles joined them.

Jesus and the apostles sat down and began the special Passover meal. As they were eating, Jesus knelt down in front of his apostles and washed their feet. Back then, all of the streets were made of dirt, and everyone wore sandals. People’s feet were always getting dirty. At first, the apostles didn’t want to let Jesus do such a dirty job of cleaning their feet, but Jesus explained to them how much he loved them and wanted to serve them. So they all sat in reverence as Jesus washed their feet. When he finished, Jesus reminded his apostles how important it was that they serve others.

Jesus knew it was almost time for him to die. He talked with his apostles as they continued to eat the Passover feast. He told them that this would be the last time he would eat and drink before he died. Because it was Jesus’ last meal, we call this special feast the Last Supper. Jesus knew that he would be betrayed—one of his friends would tell the bad men where to find Jesus so they could capture him and kill him. The man who would betray Jesus was one of his apostles—Judas. Judas was with Jesus and the rest of the apostles as they ate the feast of the Passover. It made Jesus very sad to know that someone he loved would betray him. Jesus told the apostles that he would be betrayed by one of them. Most of the apostles were surprised and sad, but Judas knew Jesus was talking about him. Wicked men had promised Judas they would give him 30 pieces of silver if he would tell them where they could find Jesus. When Jesus and his apostles were finished eating the feast, Judas left. He was going to find the wicked men to tell them where Jesus was and get his money. Judas loved money more than he loved Jesus.

After Judas left, Jesus took a loaf of bread. He said a special blessing and broke the bread into small pieces. Then he passed the pieces to the apostles and told them to each eat one. He told them the bread was to remind them of his body and how he would die for them. Next Jesus took a cup of wine, which was like grape juice, and blessed it and passed it to each of his apostles, telling them to drink some. This would remind them of his blood, which would fall from him as he takes away the pains and sins of everyone in the world. Eating the blessed bread and drinking the blessed wine is called taking the Sacrament. This was the first time anyone had taken the Sacrament. Jesus showed them how to do it. He asked them to do it after he was gone, to help them to always remember him.

It was time to leave the upper room of the house. Before they left, Jesus and his apostles sang a hymn together. Then they left the room to make their way to the Mount of Olives. They passed through a gate in the wall of Jerusalem and crossed over a small brook. Then Jesus and his apostles started walking up the Mount of Olives until they got to a garden of olive trees called Gethsemane.

As they entered the garden, Jesus asked eight of his apostles to stay there and wait. Then he turned to Peter, James, and John and asked them to continue walking with him a little further. Soon they reached the right spot, and Jesus told Peter, James, and John to wait and watch. Jesus went just a little further until he was alone, and then he fell to the ground and began praying to Heavenly Father. As he prayed, Jesus took upon himself our sins. That means that he felt what it feels like when we sin. He felt how sad and miserable we feel inside when we make a bad choice. He felt those feelings for every sin each of us has ever made, for every person in the whole world. This would be the hardest thing anyone in the world had ever done. Jesus chose to do it because he loves us so much. And because he would do this very difficult thing, we can be forgiven when we repent and we can go back to be with Heavenly Father after we die. If Jesus didn’t take upon himself our sins, we would not be allowed to return to Heavenly Father in heaven.

Remember, we can only go back to heaven if we are perfect—if we’ve never made a mistake or done something wrong. But all of us make mistakes sometimes. Heavenly Father knew that. He knew that we could never return to him unless someone else—someone who was perfect—took away those sins and paid the consequences of them. Jesus was perfect. He’s the only perfect person to ever live on the earth. And he loves us so much that he wanted to make sure we could go back to heaven if we repent. When we repent, Jesus takes away the sin, and it’s like we never did it. We are forgiven.

During his time in Gethsemane, Jesus was not just taking upon himself our sins. He was also feeling all the sickness, all the pain, and all the sadness of every person that ever lived on the earth. He needed to do this so that he can understand how we feel and know how to help us when we pray. As Jesus prayed and felt all those terrible feelings for everyone, he was sad—so sad he felt like he would die. His body was hurting so much he was shaking. Heavenly Father knew what Jesus was doing. He loved Jesus very much. He sent an angel to help Jesus feel stronger. Jesus kept praying. He was in so much pain that he started to bleed. He loved us so much to feel such suffering for us!

Finally it was over. Jesus had felt every sadness, every sickness, and every hurt that you or I or anyone in the world had ever felt. And because he felt all those things, he can always understand us. When we are feeling sad or hurt or sick, we can pray for help and he knows how to comfort us and make us feel better, because he has felt those same feelings. Jesus had also suffered for our sins. Now when we make a mistake and sin, Jesus can take away that sin and we can be forgiven when we repent. This special prayer in Gethsemane that allows us to be forgiven, comforted, and understood is part of what we call the atonement. Jesus would perform the rest of the atonement in just a few short hours from now.

Jesus went back to his apostles. It was very late at night and they had fallen asleep. He woke them and told them the time had come for him to be betrayed. He knew Judas was coming. As he spoke, a crowd was climbing up the mount in the dark of the night. They were carrying lanterns and torches and weapons. They had been sent by the leaders of the Jewish church to capture Jesus. At the front of the crowd was Judas. He had led the wicked men to the Mount of Olives because he knew Jesus would be there. Because it was dark and hard to see, Judas told the wicked men that he would kiss Jesus as a sign that he was the one they should capture. As the crowd approached Jesus and his apostles, Judas stepped forward and gave Jesus a kiss on the cheek, pretending he was still his friend. But Jesus knew what was happening. The wicked men took Jesus and tied him up. The apostles were afraid. They didn’t understand what was happening. They all ran off and left Jesus with the bad men.

Jesus could have used his power to stop the wicked men and get away. But he knew that he needed to die so that he could finish what Heavenly Father asked him to do. So he walked calmly with the wicked men into Jerusalem.

Day 5 References

Jesus came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover

Church Educational System, The Life and Teachings of Jesus and his Apostles, [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979], 135.

“And so Jesus turned to Jerusalem…He planned to arrive in Jerusalem at a special time. It was the season of Passover, late March or early April.”

The disciples ask Jesus where they should have the Passover feast and Jesus answers

Mark 14:12-14 “And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?”

Peter and John follow Jesus’ instructions and are taken to an upper room that has been furnished and prepared

Luke 22:8, 13 “And he sent Peter and John… And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.”

Mark 14:15 “And [the master of the house] will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.”

Special Passover feast foods include roasted lamb, unleavened cakes, bitter herbs, and a dish with vinegar in it

David B. Haight, “Remembering the Savior’s Atonement,” Ensign, Apr 1988, 7

“As Jesus and the Twelve Apostles entered the guest chamber in the upper room, the roasted lamb, unleavened cakes, bitter herbs, and dish with vinegar were prepared and ready.”

Jesus and the apostles meet in the upper room in the evening

Matthew 26:20 “Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.”

As they are eating the feast, Jesus washes their feet

John 13:4-5 “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”

The apostles didn’t want to let Jesus do such a dirty job of cleaning their feet

John 13:6,8 “Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet…”

Jesus explains that it is important to serve

John 13:12-17 “So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

Jesus tells the apostles that this meal will be the last before his death

Luke 22:15-18 “And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.”

Jesus knew he would be betrayed by Judas

John 13:11 “For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.”

Jesus informs the apostles that one of them will betray him

Mark 14:18 “And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.”

Most of the apostles are surprised and sad, but Judas knows it is him

Mark 14:19 “And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?”

Luke 22:6 “And [Judas] promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.”

Wicked men had promised Judas 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus

Matthew 26:14-16 “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”

When they finish eating, Judas leaves the room to find the wicked men

John 13:26-30 “Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.

For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.”

Jesus blesses and breaks the bread and explains its significance

Joseph Smith Translation- Mark 14:20-21 “And as they did eat, Jesus took bread and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them, and said, Take it, and eat.

Behold, this is for you to do in remembrance of my body; for as oft as ye do this ye will remember this hour that I was with you.

Jesus blesses the wine and explains its significance

Joseph Smith Translation- Mark 14:22-24 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them; and they all drank of it.

And he said unto them, This is in remembrance of my blood which is shed for many, and the new testament which I give unto you; for of me ye shall bear record unto all the world.

And as oft as ye do this ordinance, ye will remember me in this hour that I was with you and drank with you of this cup, even the last time in my ministry.”

Jesus and the apostles sing a hymn together before leaving the upper room

Matthew 26:30 “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”

They pass through a gate in the wall of Jerusalem and cross over a small brook and then enter Gethsemane which was a garden of olive trees on the Mount of Olives

Henry D. Taylor, “‘And Always Remember Him’,” Ensign, Jul 1973, 46

“Jesus and his associates passed through one of the several gates in the wall of Jerusalem, crossed over the brook called Cedron, and entered an olive orchard, known as Gethsemane, on the slope of Mount Olivet.”

Jesus asks eight apostles to wait together and continues with Peter, James, and John

Matthew 26:36-37 “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.”

Peter, James, and John are to wait and watch

Matthew 26:38 “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

Jesus goes a little further until he is alone and then falls to the ground in prayer

Luke 22:41 “And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed…”

Matthew 26:39 “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed…”

Jesus takes upon himself our sins

David B. Haight, “The Sacrament—and the Sacrifice,” Liahona, Apr 2007, 13

“There, in the garden, in some manner beyond our comprehension, the Savior took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world.”

If Jesus didn’t take upon himself our sins, we could not return to Heavenly Father

Church Educational System, The Life and Teachings of Jesus and his Apostles, [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979], 177.

“The mortal history of mankind began with the exile of Adam and Eve from a garden, which exile signified man’s separation from God. The apex of mankind’s mortal history also occurred in a garden. The happening of that night some two thousand years ago provided every descendant of Adam with opportunity to come back into the presence of his Eternal Father on conditions of personal repentance. Thus the arm of mercy was extended, the wandering exiles bidden home, and the breach of Eden healed. This is the significance of Gethsemane.”

Jesus also feels all the sickness, pain, and sadness of the world so that he can comfort us when we pray

James E. Faust, “The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope,” Ensign, Nov 2001, 18

“Our Redeemer took upon Himself all the sins, pains, infirmities, and sicknesses of all who have ever lived and will ever live.”

Alma 7:11-12 “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.

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.”

Jesus is so sad he feels like he will die

Matthew 26:38 “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death…”

Jesus is hurting so much he is shaking

Doctrine and Covenants 19:18 “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain…”

Heavenly Father sends an angel to help Jesus feel stronger

Luke 22:43 “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”

Jesus is in so much pain that he bleeds

Luke 22:44 “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Doctrine and Covenants 19:18 “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all…to bleed at every pore…”

Jesus returns to his apostles

Matthew 26:45 “Then cometh he to his disciples…”

He wakes them and tells them the time has come for him to be betrayed

Matthew 26:46 “Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.”

As he speaks, Judas and a crowd sent by the leaders of the church are approaching

Matthew 26:47 “And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.”

The crowd has lanterns and torches and weapons

John 18:3 “Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.”

Judas kisses Jesus as a sign

Matthew 26:48-49 “Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.”

The wicked men take Jesus and tie him up

John 18:12 “Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him…”

The apostles run off and leave Jesus

Matthew 26:56 “…Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.”

Jesus could have used his power to stop the wicked men, but he went willingly with them

Matthew 26:53-54 “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?”

Day 6: Golgotha

Friday

Yesterday, on Thursday, Jesus shared his Last Supper with his apostles. Afterwards, he gave them the sacrament for the first time and taught them what it meant. He washed their feet and told them to remember to serve others. Then they left the upper room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. There Jesus prayed and took upon himself the consequences of our bad choices, as well as all our pains and sadness. When he finished, a mob of wicked men came and Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. The other apostles were confused and afraid and they ran off, leaving Jesus alone with the bad men. Jesus was tied up and led down the mount into Jerusalem.

It was after midnight. The wicked men led Jesus to the high priest Caiaphas, who was in charge of the Jewish church. They wanted Caiaphas to be Jesus’ judge and accuse him of doing something wrong. Even though it was so early in the morning that it was still as dark as night, the chief priests brought in many people to talk to Caiaphas about Jesus. Each one of them told lies about Jesus to the high priest. But Caiaphas couldn’t make sense of what they were saying because they all disagreed with each other.

While the chief priests and people were talking to Caiaphas, Jesus just stood and listened. He didn’t say anything. Caiaphas was very wicked. He was getting angry that they couldn’t find something wrong with Jesus. He wanted Jesus to be in trouble. Finally, Caiaphas asked Jesus why he was so quiet when they were accusing him of doing so many bad things. Jesus still didn’t say anything. Caiaphas asked him if he was the Son of God. At last, Jesus answered. He said, “I am.”

Caiaphas wouldn’t believe Jesus. He wanted Jesus to be killed for claiming he was the Son of God. He and the others started hitting Jesus. They spit on him and made fun of him. Jesus could have stopped them. But he didn’t. He stayed calm even though they were hurting him. Now Caiaphas was just the leader of the church, not the leader of the land. He wasn’t allowed to sentence someone to death. Only the leaders of the land could do that. So he and the other wicked men came up with a plan. They decided to send Jesus to Pilate, the ruler over Judea. They would tell Pilate that Jesus was causing trouble and should be put to death.

Many hours had passed since they had taken Jesus from the garden of Gethsemane. They had been up all night long and now it was very early in the morning. The sun had just come up as they brought Jesus to Pilate. Pilate listened to the chief priests and other wicked men as they accused Jesus of doing terrible things—things Jesus didn’t do. They said he was trying to fight against the king of the land so he could be the king instead. They didn’t understand that Jesus already was a king. He was the King of Heaven. The Jews had been waiting for so long for their Savior—their King—to come. Jesus was their king—the King of the Jews. But the chief priests and the Pharisees and many other Jews wouldn’t listen to Jesus. They wouldn’t believe him.

Pilate watched as Jesus stood quietly and listened to everything. Finally he asked Jesus why these men had brought him there and said such terrible things about him. Jesus explained that the reason he came to the earth was for this to happen. He knew he had to suffer for our sins, our pain, and our sadness. He needed to let the wicked men kill him so that he could be resurrected—being resurrected was so important. Pilate listened to Jesus. He knew that Jesus was innocent—that he shouldn’t be put to death.

Though it was still quite early in the morning, a big group of people had gathered outside to hear what would happen to Jesus. The group was full of wicked people, like the chief priests and the Pharisees, and many others. They wanted Jesus to be killed.

Pilate came out to tell them what would happen to Jesus. He announced that Jesus was innocent. He had done nothing wrong. Pilate knew that during this Passover time, the people were allowed to choose one person to be released from prison and be set free. He asked them if they wanted to choose Jesus since he was innocent. The wicked mob of people shouted that they didn’t want to let Jesus go. They cried out that they wanted to crucify him!

A group of soldiers took Jesus and started to beat him. Jesus was hurting and sad, but again he didn’t fight back. He had the power to stop them, but he let them do it. He was very brave. He knew he needed to let them kill him so he could show he had power over death by being resurrected. The soldiers made fun of Jesus. They made a pretend crown for him—a crown out of sharp thorns—and put it on his head. It scratched him and made him bleed. They hit him with a stick and even spit on him. The soldiers put a purple robe on Jesus, pretending he was a king, but they were really making fun of him. Then they took him back to Pilate.

Pilate brought Jesus before the mob so they could see him. He told them again that Jesus was innocent. He had done nothing wrong. Again, the mob cried out to crucify him. Pilate tried one more time to convince them to leave Jesus alone. But their cries were so loud. Pilate started to worry that if he didn’t do what they asked, they wouldn’t want him as their ruler anymore. He told them, “But this is your king! Would you crucify your king?!” The mob yelled back at him, “We have no king!” Then Pilate gave up. He told them they could do what they wanted. He wasn’t brave enough to try to protect Jesus.

The soldiers led Jesus away. They were taking him to a nearby hill, a hill that had two names: Calvary and Golgotha. They had a big wooden cross for him to be nailed to. The soldiers made Jesus carry the cross as they walked to the hill. Jesus was very weak and tired from suffering in the garden of Gethsemane a few hours before, and also from being whipped and hurt by the chief priests and then again by the soldiers. After awhile, he couldn’t carry the cross anymore. He was just too weak and too tired. The soldiers grabbed a man from the crowd and made him carry the cross for Jesus.

As they walked to Golgotha, many people followed them. These people weren’t wicked like the ones who yelled for Jesus to be crucified. These were people who loved Jesus—who were his disciples. Many women cried as they watched the soldiers being so mean to Jesus. Even Jesus’ mother Mary was there. She was so sad to see her son treated that way.

It was about 9 o’clock in the morning when they got to the hill. They set the cross on the ground and took some big nails and a hammer. The soldiers made Jesus lay on the wooden cross and then used the hammer to nail his hands and feet and wrists to the cross. Then they lifted up the cross so everyone could see him. Many people who were there made fun of him some more. But there were also people who were sad and crying as they watched. Pilate had written a sign that went at the top of the cross. He wrote, “Jesus of Nazareth: the King of the Jews.” When the chief priests saw the sign, they told Pilate to change it because they didn’t believe that Jesus was their King. But Pilate wouldn’t change the sign. Even though he wasn’t brave enough to try to protect Jesus, he knew the chief priests were killing an innocent man.

As Jesus was hanging from the cross, he prayed. He asked Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers who were doing this to him. He knew they didn’t realize they were crucifying their Savior. They were simply doing what the Jewish leaders had told them to do. Even though they were hurting him and were mean to him, he still loved them. Two thieves were also crucified, one on either side of Jesus. One of the thieves joined in with the wicked people and started to make fun of Jesus. But the other thief defended Jesus. He told the first thief that they were being crucified because they had been wicked, but Jesus had done nothing wrong. Then he asked Jesus to please remember him when he went up to heaven. Jesus said he would.

Jesus was in a lot of pain, but he still thought more about others than he did about himself. He looked down from the cross and saw his mother crying. He also saw one of his apostles, John, who he loved very much. Jesus told his mother that John would take care of her now and that she should take care of John. He loved his mother and wanted her to be watched over and protected.

At noon, when Jesus had been suffering on the cross for three hours, darkness covered the land. It stayed as dark as night for three whole hours. At about 3 o’clock, after six hours of hanging on the cross, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” Forsaken means left completely alone. Jesus couldn’t feel Heavenly Father helping him. It was a terrible feeling. Part of taking away our sad and lonely feelings meant that Jesus needed to understand what it was like to not feel Heavenly Father’s help and comfort. Right before he died, Jesus cried out, “I thirst”. The soldiers filled a sponge with vinegar and lifted it up with a stick to his mouth so Jesus could drink.

When Jesus had suffered all, he said “It is finished”. He had done what he needed to do. The atonement was complete. He had felt all of our sad and hurt and lonely feelings. He had taken upon himself our sins, feeling the terrible feelings that come when we make mistakes or do something wrong. And he had felt completely alone. Jesus raised his voice once more and said, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” And then Jesus’ spirit left his body and he died.

As soon as Jesus died, there was a big earthquake that shook the earth and broke big rocks into pieces. The veil, or curtain, in the temple suddenly tore right down the middle. The soldiers were afraid. They wondered if maybe Jesus really was the Son of God. After Jesus died, his body stayed on the cross for awhile longer. The sun was going down soon, so the soldiers went to make sure Jesus was really dead. One of them took a spear and pierced Jesus in the side. When he did that, blood and water came out. Now the soldier knew that Jesus was really dead.

Jesus’ friends quickly, but carefully, took his body down from the cross and gently wrapped it in cloth. They needed to take care of his body before the Sabbath day began, at sundown. They carried it to a tomb, which is like a cave where they would bury bodies. They rolled a big stone in front of the tomb to cover the entrance. Then they left. Jesus was dead.

Day 6 References

It was after midnight

Intellectual Reserve, Inc, New Testament Times at a Glance: The Savior’s Final Week- Chart 2, [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2003].

Chart identifies Jesus’ arrest between midnight and 3:00 AM.

Jesus is led to Caiaphas, the high priest

Matthew 26:57 “And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.”

Witnesses are brought in but disagree with each other

Mark 14: 55-56“And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.”

Caiaphas questions Jesus with no response

Mark 14:61 “…[H]e held his peace, and answered nothing.”

Caiaphas asks Jesus if he is the Son of God and Jesus finally answers

Mark 14:61-62 “Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am…”

Caiaphas wants Jesus killed for claiming he is the Son of God

Mark 14:63-64 “Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.”

Caiaphas and the others beat and spit on Jesus

Matthew 26:67 “Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands…”

Jesus stays calm even though they are hurting him

1 Nephi 19:9 “…[W]herefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they ^{spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving ^{kindness and his ^{long-suffering towards the children of men.”}}}

Caiaphas is unable to sentence death so Jesus is sent to Pilate to invoke a death sentence

Daniel H. Ludlow, “The Greatest Week in History,” Ensign, Apr 1972, 34

“However, the power to pronounce capital punishment had been taken away from the Jewish council by Roman decree; thus the leaders of the Sanhedrin had him delivered to Pilate so an official decree of death could be issued.”

The sun was just coming up as Jesus is brought to Pilate

Mark 15:1 “And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered himto Pilate.”

Jesus is accused of treason- fighting against the king so he could be crowned king instead

Luke 23:2 “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.”

Pilate questions Jesus

Mark 15:2-5 “And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.

And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.”

Jesus explains that the reason he came to earth was for this to happen

John 18:37 “…To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world…”

Pilate listens, knows that Jesus is innocent, and announces it to the awaiting crowd

Luke 23:13 “And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him…”

Pilate asks crowd if they want to release Jesus as their choice during the Passover

Mark 15:6-9 “Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?”

The mob doesn’t want to free Jesus but wants to crucify him

Mark 15:11-13 “But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

And they cried out again, Crucify him.”

Soldiers beat Jesus, make fun of him, and make a crown of thorns; they hit him with a stick and spit on him; they put a purple robe on him and mockingly pretend he is a king

Matthew 27:27-30 “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.”

Jesus didn’t fight back

Jesus is returned to Pilate and Pilate brings Jesus before the mob and announces his innocence again

John 19:4-5 “Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!”

Pilate tries once more, but begins to worry that they won’t like him

John 19:12-13 “Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.”

Pilate cries “But this is your king!” and the mob yells “We have no king!”

John 19:15 “But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.”

Pilate gives up and tells them they can do what they want

Luke 23:23-25 “And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.”

Soldiers lead Jesus away towards Golgotha; Jesus is made to carry his cross

John 19:16-17 “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha…”

Jesus can’t carry the cross anymore and a man from the crowd is made to carry it for him

Luke 23:26 “And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.”

A group of righteous people, especially women and including Jesus’ mother Mary, followed Jesus and the soldiers to Golgotha

Luke 23:27 “And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.”

Author’s note: Because Mary, mother of Jesus, is later mentioned at his crucifixion, I am assuming she joined in the crowd of women who accompanied him to the hill

It was about 9am when they got to the hill

Mark 15:25 “And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.”

The cross is laid on the ground and Jesus is nailed to it by his hands, wrists, and feet

David B. Haight, “The Sacrament—and the Sacrifice,” Ensign, Nov 1989, 59

“[He was] struggling up the hill in His weakened condition carrying the cross and [was] stretched upon it as it lay on the ground, that the crude spikes could be driven with a mallet into His hands and wrists and feet to secure His body as it hung on the cross for public display.”

After Jesus is hung on the cross, many still make fun of him, but others weep

Matthew 27:39-43 “And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.”

Mark 15:40-41 “There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

(Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.”

Pilate made the sign for the cross

John 19:19 “And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

The chief priests want the sign changed, but Pilate refuses

John 19:21-22 “Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.”

Jesus asks Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers because they don’t realize they are mocking and crucifying their Savior

Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

Two thieves are on either side of Jesus

Luke 23:32-33 “And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

One thief joins with the wicked people and makes fun of Jesus, but the other defends Jesus

Luke 23:39-41“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”

The thief asks Jesus to remember him in heaven and Jesus says he will

Luke 23:42-43 “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Jesus sees his mother and asks John to take care of her

John 19:25-27 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

At noon, darkness covers the land for three hours

Mark 15:33 “And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.”

At 3pm, Jesus cries out with a loud voice

Mark 15:34 “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Jesus needed to know what it felt like to not feel Heavenly Father’s help and comfort

Jeffrey R. Holland, "None Were with Him", Ensign, May 2009, 86–88

“…[T]hat the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required, indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone.”

Jesus says he’s thirsty so the soldiers give him vinegar

John 19:28-29 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.”

Jesus announces that it is finished

John 19:30 “…[Jesus] said, It is finished…”

Jesus speaks his final words and dies

Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

When Jesus dies, an earthquake shakes the earth and breaks big rocks into pieces

Matthew 27:51 “…[A]nd the earth did quake, and the rocks rent…”

The veil in the temple is torn down the middle

Matthew 27:51 “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom…”

The soldiers are afraid and wonder if he really was the Son of God

Matthew 27:54 “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”

The sun was going down soon so the soldiers went to make sure Jesus was really dead

John 19:31 “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”

A soldier pierces Jesus in the side with a spear, blood and water come out, and the soldier is satisfied that Jesus is really dead

John 19:32-34 “Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”

Jesus’ friends need to take care of his body before the Sabbath day started, at sundown

Luke 23:53-56 “And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”

Daniel H. Ludlow, “The Greatest Week in History,” Ensign, Apr 1972, 34

“According to religious law, it was not proper to leave a body unburied on the Sabbath day. Thus, as sundown approached, the followers of the Savior took his body from the cross and quickly and incompletely prepared it for burial. The body was then laid in the tomb offered by one of his disciples, Joseph of Arimathaea.”

Jesus’ friends gently wrap his body and place it in a tomb, placing a large rock to cover the entrance

Mark 15:46 “And [Joseph of Arimathaea] bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.”

John 19:39-42 “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”

Day 7: Darkness

Saturday

Really early yesterday morning, Jesus was tied up and taken to Caiaphas, and then to Pilate. He was beaten and made fun of. When Pilate asked the people what he should do with Jesus, they yelled out for him to be crucified. So Jesus was led to Golgotha, where they crucified him. When he died, a great earthquake shook the land and the soldiers were afraid. A few of Jesus’ disciples took his body down from the cross and carefully wrapped it in cloth. They laid him in a tomb and then rolled a large stone in front of the door. Now it is Saturday—the Sabbath day. Today, we observe the Sabbath on Sunday, but back then, the Sabbath was observed on Saturday.

All of the people who believed in Jesus were very sad. Now that their master was gone, they weren’t sure what they should do. The chief priests and the Pharisees who had wanted Jesus to be killed were glad he was dead. But they were also worried. They remembered Jesus saying that he would rise again on the third day. The chief priests and the Pharisees went to talk to Pilate. They asked Pilate if they could put a guard in front of the tomb. They thought that some of Jesus’ friends would steal his body and then tell everyone that Jesus had risen. They still didn’t believe that Jesus was the Son of God. Pilate told them they could have guards if they wanted, so soldiers were sent to the tomb. They were to stay there until the third day.

While all of these things were happening in Jerusalem where Jesus had lived, on the other side of the earth—in the Americas—the land was covered with darkness. On the day Jesus died, earthquakes, fires, storms, and floods filled the land of the Nephites and Lamanites. For three hours the land was in chaos and all of the most wicked people were killed.

When the earthquakes, fires, storms, and floods stopped, a thick darkness covered the land. It was so dark the people could feel it. They couldn’t see the sun. They couldn’t light fires. They couldn’t see each other. All they could see was darkness. And the darkness lasted all day. On Saturday, the day after Jesus died, it was still dark in the Americas. Many people were crying because so many had been killed from the destruction. They were crying because it was so dark. They were afraid.

But there were other people who understood what was happening. They remembered the Lamanite prophet Samuel who stood on the wall and prophesied to the people. Samuel told them about the things that would happen when Jesus was born—how it would be light all night long and that a new star would appear in the night sky. Those things had happened, just like Samuel said. Samuel told the people about the things that would happen when Jesus died. He told them it would be dark for three days. The righteous people knew the darkness that covered their land was a sign of the Savior’s death. Even though they couldn’t see, and the land all around them was broken up from the earthquakes and storms, they weren’t afraid. They had faith.

And then, in the middle of the darkness, the people heard a voice. The voice told them all the things that had happened to the land around them. It told them about fires and floods, about storms and earthquakes. It told them that the people who had been killed died because they were so wicked. Then the people heard the voice say, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God.” Jesus’ body was dead and laying in the tomb in Jerusalem. But his spirit had gone up to heaven. And now he was speaking from heaven to the Nephites. They listened in the darkness as Jesus told them how much he loved them and wanted them to be righteous. Jesus told them to be baptized and to follow him. He told them that he had laid down his life so they could repent and go back to heaven.

And then it was quiet. The voice was gone. The people had stopped crying. They were so amazed at what they had heard that they sat there in the darkness without making any noise. For many hours there was complete silence.

Finally, the people heard Jesus’ voice again. This time he told them how often he had tried to help them—how he had sent prophets to teach them what was right, but many of them wouldn’t listen. Once more it was quiet, but not for long. The people started to cry out again. They were very sad that so many of their friends and family had died. They knew those people had missed their chance to repent. They had just been too wicked.

The people who had listened to the prophets—who were righteous—listened carefully to Jesus’ words. How wonderful it must have been for them to hear the Savior’s voice telling them how much he loved them! Even in the darkness, they must have imagined what Jesus was like—what it would have been like to actually see him and be with him. But even if they were never able to see him, they did hear his voice. And that was enough. It was wonderful. Now they just needed to wait patiently for the darkness to lift.

As the people in the Americas waited for the darkness to go away, the apostles and disciples in Jerusalem mourned Jesus’ death. Their hearts were heavy and sad. Now that Jesus was gone, they felt lost.

Day 7 References

Jesus’ disciples laid him in a tomb and closed it with a big stone

John 19:39-42 “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”

Now that Jesus was gone, his disciples weren’t sure what they should do

N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 116-120

“Try to imagine how heavyhearted, discouraged, and gloomy the apostles' and others who had followed Jesus were as they realized their leader had been crucified. They were left alone, in doubt, confused, not knowing what to do. Though they had been with him and had listened to his words, they had not understood him when he said he would rise again. They thought their cause was lost.”

The Sabbath Day was Saturday

The New Testament for Latter-day Saint Families, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1998], 105.

“The Jewish Sabbath was on Saturday. Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week, which was Sunday. We now worship on that sacred day.”

The chief priests and Pharisees remember Jesus saying he would rise on the third day and go to speak with Pilate about it

Matthew 27:62-63 “Now the next day, that followed the day of the ^{preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,}

Saying, Sir, we remember that that ^{deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.”}

They ask Pilate to put a guard in front of the tomb because they think some of Jesus’ friends may steal his body and tell everyone he was risen

Matthew 27:64 “Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last ^{error shall be worse than the first.”}

Pilate consents to having guards at the tomb and they are put in place

Matthew 27:65-66 “Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”

When Jesus died, the Americas were filled with destructive chaos for three hours

3 Nephi 8:5-19 “And it came to pass in the ^{thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great ^{storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.}}

And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible ^{thunder, insomuch that it did ^{shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.}}

And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land.

And the ^{city of Zarahemla did take fire.}

And the city of ^{Moroni did ^{sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned.}}

And the earth was carried up upon the city of ^{Moronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great ^mountain.}

And there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward.

But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the ^{whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth;}

And the ^{highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough.}

And many ^{great and notable cities were ^{sunk, and many were ^{burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate.}}}

And there were some cities which remained; but the damage thereof was exceedingly great, and there were many in them who were slain.

And there were some who were carried away in the ^{whirlwind; and whither they went no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried away.}

And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.

And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were ^{found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land.}

And it came to pass that when the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of the earth did cease—for behold, they did last for about the space of ^{three ^hours…”}

The most wicked were killed

3 Nephi 9:12-13 “And ^{many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.}

…[A]ll ye…are ^{spared because ye were more ^{righteous than they…”}}

When the chaos ended, a thick darkness covered the land

3 Nephi 8:19 “…[A]ll these great and terrible things were done in about the space of three hours—and then behold, there was ^{darkness upon the face of the land.”}

They could feel the darkness

3 Nephi 8:20

“And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could ^{feel the ^{vapor of darkness…”}}

The couldn’t see the sun or light fires

3 Nephi 8:21-22 “And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all;

And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.”

People were crying in the darkness for the loss of their loved ones and because of the darkness

3 Nephi 8:23 “…[A]nd there was great mourning and ^{howling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them.”}

Some remembered Samuel the Lamanite’s prophesies

3 Nephi 8:3 “And the people began to look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet Samuel, the Lamanite, yea, for the time that there should be ^{darkness for the space of three days over the face of the land.”}

Samuel prophesied of the signs of Jesus’ birth

Helaman 14:3-5 “And behold, this will I give unto you for a ^{sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.}

Therefore, there shall be one ^{day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is ^born.}

And behold, there shall a new ^{star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.”}

Samuel prophesied of the signs of Jesus’ death, including three days of darkness

Helaman 14:20 “But behold, as I said unto you concerning another ^{sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his ^{light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of ^{three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead.”}}}

The people hear a voice in the darkness

3 Nephi 9:1 “And it came to pass that there was a ^{voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land…”}

The voice told them of the destruction throughout the land and that those who were killed were wicked

3 Nephi 9:2-11 “Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall ^{repent; for the devil ^{laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen!}}

Behold, that great city Zarahemla have I ^{burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof.}

And behold, that great city Moroni have I caused to be ^{sunk in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned.}

And behold, that great city ^{Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them.}

And behold, the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth;

Yea, and the city of Onihah and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Mocum and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of ^{Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof; and ^{waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the ^{blood of the prophets and the saints shall ^{not come up any more unto me against them.}}}}

And behold, the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made ^{hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I ^{buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them}}

And behold, that great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of king Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire because of their sins and their ^{wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their ^{secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did ^{destroy the peace of my people and the government of the land; therefore I did cause them to be burned, to ^{destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them.}}}}

And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations.

And because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down ^{fire and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my ^{face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me ^{from the ground against them.”}}}

The voice is Jesus Christ

Helaman 9:15 “Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God.”

Jesus tells them to be righteous, to repent, be baptized, and follow him; he tells them he laid down his life for them

Helaman 9:20-22 “And ye shall offer for a ^{sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I ^{baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.}}

Behold, I have come unto the world to bring ^{redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.}

Therefore, whoso ^{repenteth and cometh unto me ^{as a ^{little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have ^{laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.”}}}}

There is complete silence for many hours because the people are so amazed

3 Nephi 10:1-2 “And now behold, it came to pass that all the people of the land did ^{hear these sayings, and did witness of it. And after these sayings there was silence in the land for the space of many hours;}

For so great was the astonishment of the people that they did cease lamenting and howling for the loss of their kindred which had been slain; therefore there was silence in all the land for the space of many hours.”

The people hear Jesus’ voice again, this time telling how often he tried to help them

3 Nephi 10:3-6 “And it came to pass that there came a voice again unto the people, and all the people did hear, and did witness of it, saying:

O ye people of these ^{great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I ^{gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have ^{nourished you.}}}

And again, ^{how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.}

O ye house of Israel whom I have ^{spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and ^{return unto me with full purpose of ^heart.”}}

The voice is gone and the people cry out again for their loved ones

3 Nephi 10:8 “And now it came to pass that after the people had heard these words, behold, they began to weep and howl ^{again because of the loss of their kindred and friends.”}

There were some who were righteous and had faith

3 Nephi 8:3 “And the people began to look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet Samuel, the Lamanite…”

Those in Jerusalem are sad and feel lost

N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 116-120

Day 8: He Is Risen

Easter Sunday

Jesus’ disciples in Jerusalem spent yesterday, Saturday, feeling lost and sad. Jesus was gone. On the other side of the world, in the Americas, it had been dark since Friday, when he died. There had been many storms and earthquakes and many people had been killed. All over the world, people were feeling lost and afraid and very, very sad now that Jesus was gone.

Very early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, an earthquake shook the land of Jerusalem. The earth trembled because two angels came down from heaven and rolled back the stone that covered Jesus’ tomb. The soldiers that were guarding the tomb were very afraid. When they saw the angels, they ran away.

Just as the sun was coming up, Mary Magdalene, who loved Jesus very much, was going with some other women to visit the tomb. They carried with them some special spices that they were going to rub on the dead body. Back then, when someone died, they rubbed special spices on the body and then wrapped it with long strips of cloth before burying it. When Jesus died on Friday, they were hurrying to bury him before sundown and the Sabbath day began, so they didn’t prepare his body all the way. Now that the Sabbath was over, they had come to finish the job.

As they walked sadly down the path, Mary and the other women wondered how they were going to move the big stone so they could enter the tomb and anoint the body with spices. They didn’t know the two angels had already moved it. When they got close to the tomb, they noticed the stone was rolled out of the way. They saw the two angels, standing nearby with long, white, shining robes. The women didn’t know what to think. They ran to the tomb and looked inside. Jesus’ body was gone!

The angels could see that Mary Magdalene and the other women were afraid. They told them, “Fear not…for we know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here: For he is risen.” Then the angels told the women to go find the disciples and tell them the good news. Mary and the other women each ran off to find some of Jesus’ disciples. Even though the angels had told Mary that Jesus was risen, she didn’t quite understand. She only knew that Jesus’ body was gone. She was afraid. When she found Peter and John, two of the apostles, she cried out, “They have taken away the Lord out of the [tomb], and we know not where they have laid him.”

When Peter and John heard that news, they ran toward the tomb. As they reached it, they looked inside. They saw the cloth that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in, but his body was gone! They didn’t know what to think. Even though Jesus had told them before he died that he would rise again on the third day, they hadn’t understood. And now his body was gone. Peter and John left the tomb, but Mary Magdalene was too sad to go anywhere. She stayed outside the tomb and wept. After awhile, she looked into the tomb again. The two angels were there, sitting in the place where Jesus’ body had laid. The angels asked her why she was crying. She told them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”

Mary sadly turned around. A man was by the tomb now too. Mary noticed him and thought it was probably the gardener who was in charge of the garden nearby. The man spoke to her. He asked her why she was crying and who she was looking for. Mary thought maybe the gardener knew where Jesus’ body was. She begged him to tell her. Then the man said her name. “Mary.” All of the sudden, Mary Magdalene recognized who the man was. It was Jesus! He was alive! She looked up to him and cried out, “Master!”

Jesus told Mary to find the apostles and tell them what she had seen. She was so excited to share the news that she ran to find them. When she came to them, they were still sad and crying because Jesus had died. Mary told them Jesus wasn’t dead anymore. He had risen! He was alive!

The apostles didn’t understand. They had seen Jesus’ hands and feet nailed to the cross. They had seen him die. They didn’t believe Mary, no matter how hard she tried to convince them.

That evening, the apostles and a few other disciples were gathered together. As they talked with each other, Jesus appeared in the room. They were so surprised! He really was alive! Jesus showed them the marks in his hands and feet where the nails had been. The apostles and disciples were filled with joy because Jesus had overcome death.

Jesus had been resurrected. His body and his spirit came back together and they would never separate again. That means that he would never die again. He would be alive forever. He now had a perfect body. The only thing that wasn’t perfect about his body was the scars on his hands, his wrists, his feet, and his side. They showed where the nails and spear had been. Jesus kept those scars on purpose. He wanted us to remember what he had done for us. And because Jesus was resurrected, we will all be resurrected too. When we die, our bodies will stay on earth and our spirits will go to heaven. But after Jesus comes to the earth again, our bodies and our spirits will come back together. We will be resurrected and we will be alive forever.

Jesus stayed with the apostles and disciples and taught them. Sometimes he would leave for awhile, so he could visit other lands and other people, but he came back several times to visit the apostles and disciples in Jerusalem. One of the most important things Jesus said to them was, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” They needed to share with the world the wonderful news of the atonement. Everyone needed to know that they can repent and return to Heavenly Father.

After Jesus was done teaching the apostles and disciples, he went back up to heaven to be with Heavenly Father. The apostles and disciples did as Jesus asked. They spent the rest of their lives preaching to all the world the gospel of Jesus Christ.

************************************

On the same day Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem, back in the Americas, the darkness had finally lifted and the people could see again. For three days, it had been dark, but now it was Sunday and the light of the sun was bright again. Many Nephites travelled to the temple and gathered there. They shared with each other what had happened. They spoke of Jesus and hearing his voice. They all knew that the darkness and storms were signs of his death.

Suddenly, as they were visiting with each other, they heard a voice from heaven. The people couldn’t understand what it was saying. They looked around, trying to see where the voice came from. Again they heard it, but they still didn’t understand. It wasn’t a loud, booming voice. It was still and quiet. But it pierced their hearts and made them burn with the Spirit. They looked up toward heaven. A third time the voice came, and this time, they understood what it said:

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

And as they looked up toward heaven, they saw a man coming down, dressed in a white robe. There was complete silence as the people watched him come down. When the man stood among them, he stretched out his hand and said,

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

The people fell to their knees. They were amazed. Many of them had been learning about Jesus their whole lives, and now they were finally able to see him. The people knelt down and worshiped him.

Then Jesus said,

Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

The people stood up and reverently came toward him. Jesus let each person touch his hands and feet and side. Even though there were more than two thousand people, he let every single person come and worship him. He loved each one. Even the children were able to come right up to Jesus and touch his hands and his feet. And when everyone had seen him and touched him, they fell to their knees and cried out, “Hosanna!” The people had waited patiently in the darkness. They had heard his voice and listened to his words. And now he was finally here! Now they could see him and touch him for themselves. It was the most beautiful day they had ever known.

Jesus visited the Nephites several times over the next few days. He taught the people. He healed the sick. He blessed the children one by one. Then he went back up to heaven to stay.

And now we wait for him to come again, like he promised.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Easter Week Day by Day by Cara Smith Webber

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