I was asked to give a talk on Easter Sunday. This is my talk.

Each of us has different experiences with the Savior. As we study the life of Christ we see this in many ways. Think about your own experience with the Savior. 

 

Luke 22:32-34

32 But I have aprayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art bconverted, cstrengthen thy brethren.

33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am aready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt athrice deny that thou knowest me.

 

Christ is teaching his apostles what to do when he is gone. He reminds them to strengthen his brethren, but he also warns Peter that he will deny Him. That he will struggle to stay strong. Peter is strong when he is physically with the Savior, but not strong when he has to be on his own. 

 

The next experience listed in Luke’s account takes us to the garden of Gethsemane. Christ brought his apostles to sit a stone's throw away, but they were weary and fell asleep. 

 

Luke 22:42-44

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, aremove this cup from me: nevertheless not my bwill, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an aangel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an aagony he prayed more earnestly: band his sweat was as it were great drops of cblood falling down to the ground.

 

The Savior suffered more than we can even comprehend. He has already paid the price for each of our sins. This also encompases our shortcomings, sorrow, pain, or doubt.

 

Jesus was then taken to the high priest's house and there were three people individually who said that Peter knew Christ. Peter then denies Christ three times. Immediately the cock crows.

 

Luke 22:61-62

61 And the aLord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

 

Christ knew that Peter did not yet have the strength to stand on his own without him. Not yet. He also understands the potential that Peter has. He knows that he will lead his church when he is gone.

 

Christ is taken and scourged. He has already done so much but it is not finished yet. He must complete the atonement through his death. 

 

Luke 23:46 ¶ And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I acommend my bspirit: and having said thus, he cgave up the dghost.

 

Men did not have the power to take his life. He freely gave his life. There wasn’t this pull for power, but for the will of the Father to be fulfilled. The Father knew that the Savior would finish the preparations that were given him. 

 

Three days later, upon hearing disturbing news, Peter and John ran to the tomb and confirmed that it was indeed empty, that Jesus no longer lay there. It is interesting how each of these has a different experience at the tomb and yet they each learn in their own way what they need to learn. Peter runs into the tomb and sees that Christ is gone. He is confused and puzzled by this. Then the apostle John comes in and sees the garments laid nicely in their place and he immediately believes the Savior is resurrected just like he said he would be.  

When Mary came back to the tomb, imagine how she felt when she came to an empty tomb. She was worried about who might have taken his body. She continues to linger and stay after the others leave. She converses with angels as they ask her why she is weeping.

 

John 20:14-17

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

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

 

Can’t you just hear the pain that Mary feels. She is concerned. She is confused. Worried. She doesn’t yet understand the miracle that has just occurred. Then in verse

 

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

 

At this point, she realizes this is the Savior. How do you think Mary feels now? How would you feel? Imagine, how you would feel if you were standing in front of the Savior and he called you by name?

 

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, a former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, captures this moment beautifully as follows: “In an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before [her] as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence”

 

What is your reaction, are you confused, scared, unbelieving, or skeptical? Maybe believing like Mary? How did each of these overcome their fears and their doubt? They kept trying and doing. They came to know the Savior even better. It was through coming closer to Him and seeking Him. They didn’t give up; they felt the power that comes from becoming closer to the Savior.

 

Elder Holland said this “However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.”

 

What is your experience with the Savior? If you don’t feel you have much experience with him then choose to do something different to seek for that personal witness. The personal experience that will give you your own testimony. I know that Christ lived, died and was resurrected because he loves us so much. He was willing to sacrifice to make it possible for each of us to have our own personal experience with Him. As we seek Him we will find the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Let your experiences bring you to the Savior.