Doubly Blessed at Easter

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