Hope and Joy

 What do you think was the most important pronouncement for all humankind ever spoken?

Sunday, at last! (no, that's not it, but close!)  His disciples had been through more than they ever imagined over the past two days.  Jesus being betrayed, taken away, scoured and crucified.  Their Savior-He who had told them that He was the Son of God and that His kingdom had come to Earth-had given His life on the cross.  Then he had been laid in a tomb, lifeless.

The women came-of course it was the women first-to the tomb early in the morning after the Sabbath.  They came to finish the anointment and embalmment of His body, which had not been finished before He was laid in the tomb just prior to the Sabbath. They worried about gaining access to the tomb-"who shall roll away the stone?".  Well, they needed not be concerned about gaining entrance, as an angel (or two) had come in the night, frightened away with their very glory the Roman soldiers, and rolled away the stone.

When Mary and the other women approached the tomb the angel told them “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead;". 

The women quickly inspected the now empty tomb and hurried back to tell the apostles.  Peter and John ran to see and found the tomb empty.  Mary made her quick return.  While Peter and John were in  the tomb, someone approached Mary.  Mary had heard the angel proclaim "He is not here" but maybe didn't fully understand "...For He is risen, as he said".  She only knew that He was not there and asked the gardener, as she assumed, where He had been taken so she could complete her loving service in anointing and embalming His body.  It was then that He revealed his resurrected self to her and her hope turned to joy.

Unimaginable and infinite grace and mercy was pronounced on each of us with the angel's utterance of "...he is risen, as he said."  The most important declaration ever spoken.

Because He is indeed risen, we celebrate His atonement and resurrection on this holy day.  There was, in His time, still much work to do, as there still is.  Work to change all mankind and  each of us.  That means me.  And you.  And even you!  We get to learn, have faith, grow, stumble and fall, and rise again-until we become more like him.

The second most important declaration we all long to hear?  Because He did His Father's will and He is indeed risen, when we are each, one by one, again in His embrace, may we hear, as he lovingly calls us by our name,  "Well done, my good and faithful servant".

More Things Broken

 Saturday.  The day after He was crucified and laid in a tomb.  His followers and friends and family all witnessed this.  As we talked about yesterday, I am sure their hearts were broken.  

Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought all hope was lost?  Lost something you thought was irretrievable?  Done something that you thought was irreversible?  Became something you were sure could never change into something better, stronger, holier?  Well, Saturday was, for His disciples, such a day.  They had seen Him heal, bless, restore sight and hearing and health and even life itself.  He had taught them of the Kingdom of God and told them it was here with them.

Now He was gone.  But where had He gone?  

He had gone to break a few more things.

He broke the grave wide open.  "Oh death, where is thy sting?  Oh grave, where is thy victory?"  His followers didn't know it yet, but death would no longer be the end.  Because of Him, all of us will live again.  All of us will be made alive.  He broke the bands of death.

He also broke the gates of hell.  No longer would they open only one way.  Now the inhabitants could learn of Him, develop faith in Him, repent of their sins and have saving ordinances made in their behalf so they could return to their Father and their Heavenly Home.  And don't we all long for home?

Yesterday we mentioned that when He died on the cross, the earth itself broke in places to mourn His suffering.  The veil in His Father's house rent, symbolizing that all, through Jesus, can return to live with our Heavenly Parents again if that is what we wish.

Despair was broken.  Never again would mankind-that includes me, you and even you!-be slaves to death and hell.  He provides the way Home.  To live with each other.  We all have hope because of Him.

"And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise."  Thank you, Moroni, for this reminder.

Some broken things are blessings.  Our broken hearts, because of Him, can be hopeful hearts that lead us to work in faith to learn, grow, serve, rejoice and become.  Because of Him.

A Good Friday For Broken Things

 "Good Friday"  I don't recall hearing about Good Friday as I was growing up in South Salt Lake.  It was probably, maybe, mentioned in a primary or Sunday school class, but that was so long ago that it would be deeply buried in my gray matter.  I remember some things about my church meetings from my teenage years at the Butler 12th Ward, but nothing is coming to mind about this holy day.  I don't think it was a thing from my mission days in the Lutheran-dominated world of Sweden.  People there went to church on Christmas and Easter, but, again I don't recall anything about Good Friday, even though Wikipedia tells me that it is an observed holiday by Lutherans.  Actually, I think it has just been in recent years that I have become more aware of the significance of this Holy Day.

We all know of the events of Good Friday and the day/night before.  They began with the Last Supper with all of His wonderful teachings and love demonstrated to his disciples, continued through Gethsemane, the betrayal, arrest, conviction, flogging, thorn-crowning, cross bearing, and ridicule.  They continued on this day-Good Friday-with His crucifixion.  Which ended with Jesus willingly fulfilling his Father's will and willingly giving up his mortal life-"no man taketh if from me".  This "good" day ended with our Savior lying in a borrowed tomb, his body not yet properly prepared and anointed for burial, as the Sabbath began before all could be completed.

Since I became more aware of Good Friday, I have often asked myself what those around the Savior found to be "good" on this day.  Now we, knowing how the story ends, can see the significance of the events and know of the need for Jesus to be "bruised, broken and torn for us" on that hill, even if we don't understand it, can see how these events were "good".  But what about His disciples who had been waiting oh, so long for the Messiahs to deliver them?  His family and friends who were so close to him and loved him?  And the twelve, now eleven, who had been through so much, had seen and done miracles in His name, had looked to Him to usher His kingdom into the world?  And now He was gone, his body in a tomb.

I think there were other things broken on that Good Friday, in addition to the Savior's mortal body.  Some must have had their hopes for a Messiahs-a deliverer-dashed and broken on that stony hill.  We know there were rules, laws, traditions broken in order to arrest, convict, and crucify Him.  I believe that those dearest to Him-Mary his mother and Mary and the other women, his apostles, his friends like Mary and Martha and Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, must have had broken souls and broken hearts and wept bitter tears.  I am sure there were others who had not been "official" disciples, like the Roman soldier, whose hearts also ached as they watched the events of that "good" day.

But what else was broken?  We will talk of other marvelous truths tomorrow about broken things that He caused and which make it possible for us to return to Him.

In the meantime, let us remember what He suffered on this day and the night before.  For me.  For you.  And, yes, even you! And if, as we consider the Garden and the Cross, our hearts become broken, even a little bit cracked, because of his love for you, and me, and all of us, let us remember that He has asked us to bring these broken hearts to Him and put them on His alter so He can heal and sanctify them.  Broken things can be remade perfectly if we give them to Him. Hearts and hopes and even our lives.  He is might to heal and mighty to save.  Even me.  And you.  And even you!

Good Friday to you all!

The Passover Lamb

 Jesus went to Jerusalem and the temple-His house-during the Feast of the Passover.  He met with his disciples on Thursday, Passover day, for the Passover meal and to teach and prepare his disciples for what was to come.  I don't think they realized that what He had been teaching them was to be literally fulfilled.

The first Passover involved the blood of an unblemished lamb, obedience to the Lord's directions and deliverance from centuries of captivity and slavery by miraculous means.

This Passover would involve the blood of the Lamb of God, direction given by the Savior to his disciples, covenants made, the will of the Father (who loves us) being fullfilled by His Son, and deliverance from the captivity of death.  God's grace and mercy saves us from the slavery of sin and pain and disappointment and misery and anger and depression and physical imperfections and agony and addiction and anything else that causes us to have sad hearts, by means of the greatest miracle in the history of mankind.  Remember-a God needed to die to provide our deliverance.  Nothing less would suffice.

Jesus and his twelve met for Passover supper.  He washed their feet.  Peter initially refused, but the Savior taught him that this was needed.

 Jesus taught his twelve many things.  Love was a preeminent principle.  "This new commandment I give ye; love one another."  "By this shall men know ye are my disciples; if ye have love one to another."  He also promised them comfort, as I'm sure He knew they would need it, both for the events of the next few days and when they would take his word to the world.   After he told them that they would be persecuted and killed, he taught them "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

He instituted the Sacrament with his twelve.  He told them to eat the bread and drink the wine in remembrance of His flesh and blood.  We take Him into us when we renew covenants through the sacrament. 

After the washing, teaching, the breaking of bread, the institution of the sacrament, and the pleading to have them love one another, He left them, saving three, and went to Gethsemane. 

After his holy work and supplications to his father in the garden, he allowed himself to be taken.

OK, my apologies, little family.  If any of you have read this far.  I can't come close to communicating what I feel about the Atonement of Jesus Christ in this little post.  Here is what I know, but don't fully understand.  God loves us.  He sent his Son.  Jesus' infinite atonement saves us from death-He is mighty to save and we will all live again.  It also allows us to change and try to do, then be, better. To be like Him. So we can live with God and our Brother and our families again.

So-I don't at all know how this "condescension of God" works.  But, like Nephi, I know why-that He loves his children-us.  "For God so loved the world...".

 Love each other.  Be His disciples.  Miracles happen when we do.

Atoning Passover day love to each of you. 

Spy Wednesday

 We aren't sure of the exact chronology of  the events of Holy Week.  Luke makes mention of something interesting.  It seems that the chief priests and scribes were troubled by some of the Savior's hard-to-hear teachings.  Here is what they did in response-

19 ¶And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

They sent spies pretending to be "just men" to "take hold of his words".  They wanted to "catch" the Savior in his words, his teachings, in order to have a reason to deliver him up to the authorities.

Because of this, some call Wednesday of Holy Week "Spy Wednesday".

The Gospels all record ongoing teachings through this mid-week period.  I want to focus on one very important truth the Savior taught during this time. 

One of the scribes asked Him "Which is the first commandment of all?" The Savior answered  (Mark's version)  "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namley this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

To which the scribe replied "Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

I don't know if this scribe was trying to catch the Savior in his teachings, but I am blessed that he posed the question, as the Savior's answer helps me keep perspective on my mortal adventure.  When I let myself get too caught up in the "work", the checkboxes, the often misunderstood "after all you can do" that follows the truth that it is by the Savior's grace that we are saved, the Saviors response-to love God and my neighbor-helps me refocus and get back on the right path.  If I think about what I could do to show God I love him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and my neighbor as myself, well, I tend to act better and try to become more like Him.

There is so much to think about how each of us is doing in following these two commandments.

How do you think the Savior replied to this scribe's response to Him?  "And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.".

Seems like  this scribe understood what the Savior was talking about.  I would assume that his heart had been changed by the spirit as he had listened to the Savior's teachings that week.

May we all have hearts that allow us to love God and our neighbors that we may be found "...not far from the kingdom of God".  And I hope we listen with these same hearts to His teachings, even when they seem hard.

The People Who Love You

 At the end of the second day, when He had cleansed His Father's house, performed healings, and did wonderful things, Jesus "...left them and went out of the city into Bethany: and he lodged there."   Who might He lodge with in this small town some two miles from Jerusalem?  We know this is where he had spent time before with his friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.  We know He loved them (well, He loves all of us, but these were some of His friends, one who he even raised from the dead) and I'm sure they greatly loved Him.  He knew that there were great trials before him in the coming few days.  Many of the multitude who had praised Him as He entered the holy city would turn on Him, even demanding that He be crucified.  One of His closest disciples would betray Him.  One would deny that he knew Him. Many would hide.  Don't worry, they would do marvelous things later and would give their lives for Him.  We all need the opportunity to change and grow.  But the end of this week will be hard for them.  And Him.

He would be asked to do His Father's will to show love for His Father's children.  That includes you and me and your families and best friends and even those who don't like you and may torment you.  We are all His children and He came to save us.  It would be the greatest battle ever fought and there was only One who would be able to win it.  For us.  For His Father.  He knew this was at the doorstep for him.  I think He went to stay the night with those who loved Him so he could find rest and comfort and prepare.  

There is a strength that comes from being with those who know and love us best.  Their love for us strengthens us and helps us do our hard things.  Those closest to us help us know how we can grow and be better, as well as help us understand our potential and who we really are-especially when we most need it. Often this helps get us through our most difficult times. 

If you read Mathew 21-23, you'll see what He did on that third day after finding refuge with his friends.  You'll hear what he taught.  There is so much there-I won't even try to summarize, but please take time to read His wonderful teachings on this day, the day before His last mortal Passover meal.

In the meantime, consider doing a couple of things.  First-be willing to "lodge" with those who love you most.  Seek their strength, help, comfort (sounds like "home", right?).  Often this takes a soft heart on our part.  It is very hard for some of us to seek help-especially when it is most needed.  Pride gets in the way.  Second-be spiritually aware of those you love who may need your strength, help, comfort.  Those whose arms may hang down and whose knees might be feeble (not mine-mine are bionic-arms and knees!).  Help them by bearing burdens as well as feeling their sorrows so you may mourn with them.  Follow the Savior and His Friends on this third day.  

Love you all!

"Who is this?"

 Yesterday, Palm Sunday, Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The multitudes recognized him as a "Son of David" and shouted "Hosanna" as he entered.  "Hosanna" means "God save us".  

After He entered Jerusalem Mathew wrote "...and all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?"

And just Who was it that they were expecting?  Moses had delivered their people, long ago, from the slavery of the Egyptians.  Would Jesus go to the Fortress Antonia and rid the city of the Roman soldiers, starting their long-awaited delivery from the Romans? 

No.  He went instead to His Father's house-the temple-and cleansed it of those who sold animals and coin for sacrifice and payment.  Matthew tells us that Jesus said  "It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves".  The next verse reads "And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them."

I love the next verse-"And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased."  How could one be "sore displeased" in the midst of healings, wonderful works and shouts of Hosanna?

Who is this?  It sounds as if the children knew who He was more than most of the leaders.  "Out of the mouth of babes...thou has perfected praise".

The temple is a liminal place.  A kind of in-between place.  It is where Heaven and Earth can meet.  It is His house.  Jesus went "home" to his house and found things happening there that ought not to have been.  So he drove those out who shouldn't have been there.  Then the blind and the lame came to Him-they knew where to find Him-at His house-and He healed them.  He did "wonderful things".  And there were children in the temple praising Him and shouting Hosanna-"God save us"!

I'm not sure what those around him were expecting-"Who is this?"  But I know He often told them that he came to do His Father's will.  This is the beginning of His last week of mortal work. Doing His Father's will.  Cleanse his house.  Heal. Do wonderful things. Be recognized and praised by the children.  The story continues tomorrow.

This brings up a few questions for me.  "Who is this" Jesus for me?

Do I spend time in liminal places, like the temple, where I can sense the presence of  Heaven better?  Have you been overwhelmed by awe and peace when out in the wilds, on a mountain, in a desert place?  Can I better make my home a place where Heavenly influence is welcome?  How can I help make these places more liminal?

"Who is this?" that I worship, want to emulate, try to follow, and declare to others as our Savior, Older Brother, and Son of Man of Holiness? 

I will keep following Him as best I can, knowing that I will fall short, but He will lift me up and He will cause me to shout "Hosanna" with the multitudes seeking peace and safety. 

He came, riding a donkey.

They had waited a long time. Longer than you or your parents or your grandparents or even their grandparents were alive. They had waited and watched for millennia. During that time they had seen kingdoms come and go. They had had wonderful prophets of God and kings who built temples for them. They had wandered for decades and been sustained by bread from heaven and water from rocks. They had conquered, been conquered, enslaved and been enslaved. They had seen fire from heaven, plagues of frogs, and divided seas. They had been obedient to their God and they had foolishly followed after graven images. They had been scattered and partially gathered. And they were still waiting. And watching. They knew what they were waiting for. Their Mesiah. He would teach them, heal them and deliver them. 

 And then He came. At first they didn't know it.  At least most of them.  Some shepherds knew.  And some old people at the temple.  A few more probably.  Some Magi from far away found him and told a "king" about the baby.  Stories from another season.

He grew up.  Some saw Different in Him.  Most saw the son of Mary and Joseph.  Until he started dong miracles.  Water became wine.  Withered became whole.  The Way walked on water.  People with chronic infirmities were made well and whole-and more. The blind saw, the deaf heard.  The unclean were cleansed.  The dead were restored to life.

At first, a few listened and heard.  A few looked and saw.  More, even multitudes, saw the miracles and started following to be fed.  A few small loaves and fishes fed thousands.  They had found Him-their king! They would be delivered from the oppression of their current rulers and their earthly kingdom restored!  Hallelujah!  But not now.  He was here for a much more marvelous mission than deliverance from earthly oppression.

He knew His mortal mission was near its completion.  He arranged to make his final entry into Jerusalem as a prophesized King-riding on a donkey.  The people thronged him and laid down palm fronds and even their cloaks for him to ride on into the city.  Surely this was their King, Deliverer, the Messiah.  Hosanna to God and sing His praises.  Deliverance was nigh at long last! No longer would they be yoked by political oppression.  They had their God with them.  They would surely be saved!

And so they, we, were truly saved.  But not yet in the way many of His time thought or maybe even knew was possible.  By the end of that week which started with His triumphal entry into their holy city, we would all be granted blessings unimagined by most.  We would all be delivered from those monsters of death and hell. 

We still live in a fallen world and await His next coming.  What will we be expecting and hoping for?  Will we be there laying down our hearts for him to enter? Are we even now listening and hearing, looking and seeing and feeling?

Blessed Palm Sunday to you all.  I understand that next time He'll be in His chariot of fire.