Dear family members,
Since Easter is coming in just a few days, I want to write about Easter. It is so important for us to remember what
happened on that Sunday morning almost two thousand years ago.
We have relived these events many times as we have
read and reread the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection in Mathew, Mark,
Luke and John, and as we have told this story many, many times to you, our children
and grandchildren and great grandchildren. But still at Easter time it is important that we examine this
amazing story one more time.
The Greeks around 500 B.C. developed a means of
portraying in dramatic form significant stories like that of Jesus. We refer to them today as Greek Tragedies.
The main character was called a tragic hero – hero
because he was such an outstanding person.
He was a great leader of men, a great warrior, physically and
intellectually superior to those around him, but kind and just and
compassionate. Tragic because although
he was superior in so many ways he had a flaw which would ultimately lead to a
tragic end.
He also had to be of noble birth, a king or prince
because his life and death had to have meaning.
His life and death would change the world.
When something tragic happens to you or me, those
close to us mourn, but our tragedy has little meaning in the world at
large. However, when a king or a great
man experiences tragedy, the whole world takes note because his tragedy affects
everyone.
There was also often in Greek tragedies a romantic
element – a beautiful woman who was as remarkable and talented as the tragic
hero, a fit companion in every way.
Then there were a series of other characters that
played important roles in the looming tragedy, some good and some evil.
Well, what has all this to do with the Savior and
Easter Sunday? The Greeks would have
recognized in Jesus a tragic hero. He
was born a king. His birth had been foreseen
by prophets going back to the beginning of time and was accompanied by a chorus
of angels from on high.
Yes, he was a lowly carpenter by trade, but as a
result he developed a strong and powerful physic. And his intellect astonished all those who
heard him teach, even at the young age of 12. He was a courageous leader of men drawing crowds of
thousands around him to hear him speak and teach. He was a kind and compassionate man, healing
the sick, raising the dead and pardoning even those guilty of serious sins such
as adultery.
The world would be forever changed because of the
gospel he taught and the example he set, being the only person in the history
of the world to live a life without sin.
His perfect life came to a mortal end as he suffered
the agony of Gethsemane and the horrible pain of crucifixion. His fatal flaw, as the world might see it,
was his absolute candor. When Caiaphas asked him if he was truly the son of God
he answered that he was. Thus he was
declared blasphemous and worthy of death.
Shortly thereafter he went before Pilate, who asked
him if he was truly king of the Jews. Jesus again answered that he was. Later Pilate
would wash his hands of the matter and turn Jesus over to his soldiers to be
crucified.
In the Greek tradition, that would be the end of the
play. But to Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John the story has a more powerful outcome, for Jesus’ death was not the ending
but the beginning.
His resurrection broke the bonds of death both here
and in the spirit world. All men and
women would live again physically and could live eternally with him and our
Father if they would accept his atoning sacrifice and keep his commandments.
It is this marvelous event that we celebrate this week.
But there are other characters that are also a part of
this story - minor but significant
characters as in a Greek Tragedy.
There is Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who went to
Pilate after Jesus was declared dead and requested his body. They took it, washed and anointed it, wrapped
it in linen and placed it in a tomb to await the passing of the Sabbath when
they could properly prepare his body for burial.
Then there is Mary Magdalene who came early Sunday
morning to anoint Jesus’ body with perfumes and oils. In Mathew, Mark and Luke she is accompanied
by two other women, Salome and Mary the mother of James. But in John she comes alone.
I like John’s story best because it has a more tender
and intimate tone.
Mary Magdalene historically was a very beautiful woman
and a dedicated follower of Jesus. She
was considered in ancient documents to be a powerful leader in the Church,
almost on a par with the apostles.
Note what Elder Bruce R. McConkie has said of her:
”She was one of the most virtuous and righteous women
ever to follow Jesus. So great was her
faith and so extensive her good works that she was singled out to stand as the
first mortal person to see our Lord after his resurrection.”
It would appear that Jesus and Mary had a special
relationship. According to John she was
the first to arrive at his tomb, only to find it empty. Frightened and worried, she ran to tell the
apostles that Jesus’ body was not in the tomb.
Peter and James run back to the sepulcher to see if
the report is true. Finding the tomb
empty also, they left; Mary remained there alone to mourn her loss. She is inconsolable in her grief.
John records the circumstances in John 20:11- 17.
Mary is sobbing as she re-examines the empty tomb,
only to find two men there. John calls them angels. I’m not sure but what Mary thought they were just two men
dressed in white.
They ask her why she is sobbing. She says because they have taken away her
lord and she doesn’t know where to find him.
Then she turns away from the tomb and sees another man
whom she assumes is the gardener. He
also asks her why she is weeping.
She asks this time if he is the one who has taken her
Lord away. If so, will he tell her where
he is so that she can take proper care of him.
Jesus answers her plea by calling her name, Mary. As so many times in the past, Jesus spoke her
name lovingly and endearingly. Elder
McConkie continues:
“Mary, his beloved; he spoke her name, nothing
more. It was as when the still, small
voice sank into the soul of Elijah; it was as though angelic choirs had sung
her name – Mary.”
Her recognition was instantaneous, and she turned
toward him, reaching out to touch him or to embrace him.
We can imagine the Savior also wanting to reach out to
her, to take her in his arms and to comfort her, but he could not for he had not
yet returned to his father in heaven.
Elder McConkie says of her feelings at this incredible
moment, “Her river of tears suddenly became a sea of joy.”
It was her savior who stood before her. She could love him again in person as she had
in the past! Jesus who had been declared
dead was now alive again!
Other characters in the story included Peter and
John. They were in a meeting with some
of the other disciples when Mary came running in with her declaration that the
tomb was empty and Jesus’ body was not to be found.
At first they did not believe her, but afterward ran
to the tomb to see for themselves. John
being the younger and more fleet of foot, got there before Peter. But all they found were the linen materials
with which his body had been wrapped.
They too left sorrowing and wondering, leaving Mary to
grieve alone. The Savior would, as we
have seen, shortly come to comfort her in her mourning. Later that day Jesus would appear to all the
apostles except Thomas.
The story of the first Easter Sunday is not the same
in all four gospels. There are differing
details and characters in each account, but each writer declares the same great
truth – Jesus was resurrected from the dead for they saw him, felt the wounds
in his hands and feet and side. They spoke to him, ate with him, and were
taught by him for the next forty days.
And the twelve were not the only ones to bear
testimony to the resurrection of the Savior.
Hundreds of others saw him and heard him speak during those next 40
days.
In the new world Nephi recorded similar events where
thousands of men, women and children were taught by him, blessed by him,
allowed to see and feel his wounds.
They also made covenants with him to be baptized and
to keep his commandments.
Many in our secular world today accept Jesus as a
great teacher and philosopher but question the authenticity of his
resurrection.
Yet thousands in his day testified of this reality and
have recorded their testimonies in our sacred scriptures. And in our own day we have the testimonies of
modern prophets and apostles. Who will
ever forget Bruce R. McConkie’s final testimony in General Conference or
President Packer’s in April conference?
And then there are our own testimonies. We know as surely as we live that Jesus is
the Christ and that his sacrifice atoned for our sins and that in reality he was
resurrected from the dead.
This week as we celebrate that miraculous event. May we remember the great blessings that have come to
the world and to us because Jesus was raised from the dead 2000 years ago. As a result, we too can live again, free from
the effects of our sins because of His atoning sacrifice.
I want to also share my testimony with you of the reality of
those events on that first Easter Sunday.
I know that Jesus is the Christ, that he is our Savior, and that he will
stand again upon the earth in the last days. And I know that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the
restoration, that the Book of Mormon is true, that the ultimate destiny of us
all, if we continue in faithfulness, are the promises made in the 76th
section of the Doctrine and Covenants.
Of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ.
