Easter is always a happy time for
me as I often think of the Atonement and
its role in our life after death. I am
humbled to speak on Easter about the glorious resurrection and the blessings we
receive in the gift of immortality from our Savior Jesus Christ. My thoughts have been drawn to how blessed we
are to have the gospel in our lives to give us comfort in times of grief when
losing a loved one. As those of you who
lived in the 18th ward years ago know, I lost both my parents who were members
here. First my dad in 1984 and then my
mom in 1997. I have often spoken in
meetings of my testimony of the resurrection and how I know I will see my
parents again.
During the past 10 years I have
played violin and for a time managed a local community symphony. One of my favorite performances was at
Christmas time as we prepared for and performed Handel's Messiah. This sacred piece was first performed in
April of 1742, it wasn't until the 19th century that it became accepted as a
Christmas piece. Originally, and more
truthfully, it is a celebration of Easter.
Dr. Mark D. Roberts, a pastor and
director at Fuller Seminary wrote an analysis on Handel's Messiah. He said, [quote] "A performance of
Handel’s Messiah lasts
somewhere around 137 minutes, The birth of Jesus (“For unto us a child is
born”) comes just about 25% into the performance. The resurrection … occurs
just before the 60% point, which leaves 40% of the entire Messiah to focus on the fact and the implications of the
resurrection. A substantial portion of this 40% concerns the resurrection, not
of Jesus, but of those who believe in him." [end quote] (Handel’s Messiah, An Unexpected Easter
Masterpiece, Dr. Mark D. Roberts)
The lyrics for Handel's Messiah,
was compiled by Charles Jennens, a musician/poet who had worked with Handel
previously. The text, he compiled, was
written from the scriptures and relies heavily on prophetic declarations of
Christ found in the Old Testament and testimony of saints in the New
Testament.
We are all familiar with the
Christmas portions in Handel's Messiah, I would like to discuss the scriptures
used in this music that celebrates Christ's power to save us from the grave and
to redeem us from sin.
During the performance a soloist
sings the words of Job, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall
stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though worms destroy this body, yet
in my flesh shall I see God". (Job 19:25–26)
Later another soloist
triumphantly sings the words of Paul, "The trumpet shall sound, and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this
corruptible must put on incorruption; and this mortal must put on
immortality." (I Corinthians
15:52–53)
As I pondered on these words and
my testimony of a literal resurrection I reread one of my favorite talks by
Elder Neal A. Maxwell regarding the Atonement of Jesus. He said, "Now, my brothers and sisters,
let not Jesus’ redemption for us stop at the immortalizing dimension of the
Atonement, “the loosing of the bands of death” (Alma 11:41). Let us grasp the
proffered gift of eternal life! …His
beckoning command is to become “even as I am” (3 Ne. 27:27). The spiritually
settled accept that invitation, and “through the atonement of Christ,” they
become and overcome! (see Mosiah 3:18, 19)." - (Neal A. Maxwell,
"Overcome, Even as I Overcame", April 1987 General Conference)
At this point, I realized that in
previous Easters, perhaps I had focused too much on the glorious but physical
aspect of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Yes, I will overcome death but more importantly I can overcome the
effects of sin in life. My gratitude and
testimony has been so steeped in my faith in a physical resurrection that I
have often glossed over the more important
aspect of the promises of eternal life that are offered me.
Because of the physical act of
being risen from the dead and because Christ
showed himself to many, because we have testimony of Christ's physical
appearance to the Nephites, because Joseph Smith, in our day, saw the resurrected
Savior and especially because I have gained a personal witness that He lives
and has overcome death, I can have faith in the redeeming aspect of the
atonement to be able to wash my sins away and make me clean. I think, in part, God wanted to give us mortals a physical
witness to reassure us that it is possible to be spiritually born again. Seeing we have witnesses to Christ's literal
resurrection, we can have faith in his promises to redeem us spiritually as
well.
In The Messiah, a soloist sings
the prophetic words of Isaiah as if Christ had already wrought the atonement,
"He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted
with grief". (Isaiah 53:3)
"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. He was
wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the
chastisement of our peace was upon Him." (Isaiah 53:4–5 25) "And with
His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
A soloist sings from Psalms
"Thy rebuke hath broken His heart; He is full of heaviness; He looked for
some to have pity on Him, but there was no man, neither found He any to comfort
Him." (Psalms 69:20) and from
Lamentations, "Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow."
(Lamentations 1:12) Christ allowed
himself to suffer more than any man could suffer so that he would know how to
succor and minister to us. We can in our
most desperate and lonely hour turn to Him knowing that He knows and fully
understands us and what we are experiencing.
Then we can with faith, ask for forgiveness and seek His loving embrace
and we will find it.
The closing piece in The Messiah
is taken from the book of Revelations and the chorus sings "Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power,
and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
Blessing and honor, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever." (Revelation 5:12-14)
"Therefore, dearly beloved
brethren [and sisters], let us cheerfully do all things that lie
in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see
the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." (D&C
123:17)
It is my Testimony that Christ lives. He lived for us, and died for us and through Him we can overcome and become like Him
