Week 7“Of all the victories in the chronicles of humanity, none is so great''

Focus: Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21

Find JOY in the Resurrection Matthew 29:8

Connecting to the Book of Mormon (one of many)

“An understanding and testimony of the resurrection can give you hope and perspective as you experience the challenges, trials, and triumphs of life. You can find comfort in the assurance that the Savior lives and that through His Atonement, ‘he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory’ (Alma 22:14)”

Can we feel sorry and joy, yes!  In my life, I feel a deep pain and sorrow while missing my dad.  I also feel joy with a wonderful family and knowledge of the plan Jesus provided.  
Matthew 28:20. “I Am with You Always”
In 2002 President Monson promised us that "as we serve the Lord, He will be with us: Whatever our calling, regardless of our fears or anxieties, let us pray and then go and do, remembering the words of the Master, even the Lord Jesus Christ, who promised, ‘I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

In Matthew 26:36–27:50 and John 19:26–27. There are multiple people that Jesus served, showed empathy for and compassion for.  Jesus knew this would be the last hours of his mortal like and he spent it showing those around him, his love for them.  What a perfect example for us.  What really matters?  A few examples are:

Placing his sweet mother in John's care
In the last moment Pilate says he finds no fault in him, Jesus did answer him and teach him.
Being a mother myself I cannot even imagine having to witness something so awful.  I can barely read the details of this horrific event.  The compassion that Jesus showed his mother was another testament to his deep love for her.  He made sure there was a set plan in place for her.  

In the end, Jesus asked for water, they gave him vinegar and shortly after he fulfilled his mission.  

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin promised that the Savior’s Resurrection reassures us that there will be an end to the dark times in our lives.

I need to work on finding a way to not let our despair linger, the Lord burst the bonds of death and he is the savior of ALL mankind. 

Then Wirthlin goes on to say something I love, this was so needed at this time in my life: “Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays. But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."

In Matthew 27–28 Jesus Christ’s suffering and painful death for all mankind and about His Resurrection. Matthew showed how these events led up to the fulfilled prophecy. After experiencing ridicule, trials, and abuse at the hands of Roman soldiers, Jesus Christ was crucified. His body was placed in a tomb. At the dawning of the first day of the week, an angel of the Lord proclaimed the joyful news that Jesus had risen from the dead. Many others were also resurrected shortly thereafter, a manifestation of the truth that the Savior’s Resurrection made possible the Resurrection of all mankind. After His Resurrection, Jesus Christ met His disciples at an appointed place in Galilee and commissioned them to take His gospel to all nations. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught: “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the great crowning event of His life and mission. It was the capstone of the Atonement” “Special Witnesses of Christ”

Matthew 28:1. “As It Began to Dawn toward the First Day of the Week”
As a result of Jesus Christ resurrecting early in the morning of Sunday, the observance of the Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday:
“In Old Testament times, God’s covenant people observed the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week because God rested on the seventh day when He had created the earth. …
“After the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which occurred on the first day of the week, the Lord’s disciples began observing the Sabbath on the first day of the week, Sunday. Acts 20:7 True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference
Matthew 28:6. “He Is Not Here: For He Is Risen”
President Gordon B. Hinckley taught about the crowning importance of the Resurrection of the Savior:

A must watch video:https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-10-1210-he-is-not-here-for-he-is-risen?lang=eng&_r=1

in Mark 16, that Jesus had risen from the dead. The Resurrection completed the Savior’s Atonement. It is the climactic event that truly makes Mark’s work a “Gospel”—a proclamation of “good news.” With this conclusion, the Gospel of Mark testifies that Jesus truly was the Son of God and that He fulfilled His mission to pay the price of our redemption.After the resurrected Savior appeared to His Apostles, He sent them forth to tell people everywhere the good news about Him and the Atonement Mark 16:15  We too must be willing to share these glad tidings in the way we live, and the words we speak.  Take opportunities to teach family, friends and those around us about some of the important truths we have learned about the Savior. 

Luke 24Jesus appears to His disciples and shows them His resurrected body Luke 24:
“They believed them not” Luke 24:36-43
“A spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have”
Angels announce to a group of women that Jesus Christ has risen Luke 24:33–53

John 20On the Sunday after the Crucifixion, Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb and informed John and Peter, who then ran to the empty tomb. The resurrected Christ appeared to Mary Magdalene and later to His disciples.
John 20:11–31
The risen Savior appears to Mary Magdalene and later to His disciples
John 20:11–18
The first witness of the resurrected Christ

John 21The resurrected Lord appeared to His disciples while they were fishing. On the shore, Jesus ate with His disciplesand invited Peter to demonstrate his love for the Lord by feeding His sheep. Jesus foretold both Peter’s martyrdom and John’s translation.
John 21:22–23. “Tarry till I come”

“These are the most reassuring words in all of human history. Death—universal and final—had now been conquered."