This week, as we commemorate the final week of the Savior’s mortal life, I am going to structure my scripture study around the events of the week. Here are some thoughts and relevant blog posts about each day:
Palm Sunday
I will remember the people who lined the streets of Jerusalem to welcome Him as He entered the city riding on a colt. They laid branches from palm trees and their clothing on the street as a sign of respect and shouted, “Hosanna,” an expression of praise and pleading from Psalm 118:25. I will strive to emulate that respect and love as I welcome the Savior into my home and into my life.
Temple Monday
I will remember the importance of cleanliness and holiness. I will remember that the way I handle and care for sacred things, both tangible and intangible, is a manifestation of my love for God.
Teaching Tuesday
I will remember the value of effective teaching. I will strive to learn from the teachings of the Savior and to emulate His approach to teaching.
- What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Teaching the Gospel in Families?
- Lessons from the Teachings of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon
Forgiving Wednesday
When we hang onto the pain that other people have caused us, we carry an unnecessary burden, I will remember the Savior’s admonition to forgive “until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22). I will intentionally set aside grievances which I have shouldered for too long.
The Last Supper
I will remember the Savior gathering His apostles, washing their feet, introducing the sacrament, and teaching them to love one another and be one.
Good Friday
I will remember Jesus entering the Garden of Gethsemane and choosing not to “shrink” from the difficult task ahead. I will remember that He suffered for our sins, then willingly gave His life for us on Calvary.
- “That Ye May Not Shrink” – 2 Nephi 9:46
- Pains, Afflictions, Temptations, Infirmities – Alma 7:11-12
- I Have Suffered the Will of the Father – 3 Nephi 11:10-11
The Spirit World
After the Savior’s death, He ministered to people in the world of spirits. I will remember that the work of salvation continues after death. I will continue to connect with my ancestors, knowing that our relationship transcends the boundaries of life and death.
Easter Sunday
I will remember that Jesus Christ overcame death. He arose from the grave. Because He did so, we will all be resurrected—our spirits and our bodies will be reunited in a perfect form, never again to be divided.
- What Does the Book of Mormon Add to Our Understanding of the Resurrection?
- How Is Jesus Christ “the Light and the Life of the World?”
- Restored
Blog Posts: March 30-April 4
Love One Another and Serve One Another
During the last week of His life, the Savior reaffirmed the importance of service to others. Listing a number of basic needs—food and water, shelter, clothing, medical care, and emotional support—He instructed us to provide these resources to people in need, saying, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these…
Forgiveness
Grudges and resentments are like dead weight which drag us down. Forgiveness is like dropping ballast from a balloon, allowing us to soar to new heights. During the final week of the Savior’s mortal life, Peter asked Him how many times he should forgive someone who wronged him, even suggesting the generous number of seven…
Unity
On the last full day of His mortal life, the Savior gathered His disciples for a meal. He washed their feet. He instituted the ordinance of the sacrament. He taught them and answered their questions. And then, He prayed for them and for all people who would believe their words: That they all may be one;…
His Cross
After suffering unfathomable pain in Gethsemane, Jesus was interrogated through the night, delivered to the Roman governor, mocked and beaten, and finally sentenced to death by crucifixion. Two of the gospel writers tell us that He carried His own cross at least partway to place of execution, the hill Golgotha. (See Luke 23:26, John 19:17.)…
Paradise
As He hung on the cross, the Savior spoke words of compassion to a man being crucified beside him: “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The Greek word paradeisos (παράδεισος) comes from an ancient Persian word for a garden or a park. It specifically refers…
He Who Liveth
Today is Easter Sunday, when Christians all over the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, His triumph over death. “I am he who liveth,” said the Savior when He appeared to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836 (Doctrine and Covenants 110:4). The Come Follow Me lesson manual…
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