A Slice of Rainbow: He is Risen!

He is Risen!

Today is filled with music. I played the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah first thing and then have played all the joyful hymns I can find. Today is filled with pure joy, a few happy tears and smiles.

John 20

1 The ^afirst day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet ^bdark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the ^cstone taken away from the ^dsepulchre.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other ^adisciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the ^bLord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the ^anapkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must ^arise again from the ^bdead.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11 ¶ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12 And seeth two ^aangels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

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.

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

17 Jesus saith unto her, ^aTouch me not; for I am not yet ^bascended to my ^cFather: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my ^dFather, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

19 ¶ Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were ^aassembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and ^bstood in the midst, and saith unto them, ^cPeace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his ^ahands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they ^bsaw the Lord.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my ^aFather hath ^bsent me, even so ^csend I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23 Whose soever sins ye ^aremit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

24 ¶ But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the ^aprint of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 ¶ And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and ^athrust it into my side: and be not ^bfaithless, but ^cbelieving.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast ^aseen me, thou hast believed: ^bblessed are they that have not seen, and yet have ^cbelieved.

30 ¶ And many other ^asigns truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not ^bwritten in this book:

31 But these are ^awritten, that ye might ^bbelieve that Jesus is the ^cChrist, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have ^dlife through his ^ename.

I love that Christ appeared to Mary Magdalene first. I don't know why, but the story is so simple, so tender. I can never read it without tearing up. All of the emotion in that one word, Rabboni.

Matthew 28:1-15

Mark 16: 1-12

Luke 24

I love that Christ appeared to the disciples in the closed room and that each Sunday, I remember that moment when the priesthood close the doors to the chapel and we silently partake of the sacrament and, as we remember Him, He manifests himself unto each of us.

I love Thomas' story and the Saviors gentle chiding to believe. I love how the Savior reaches out and helps our unbelief.

I love the many ways Christ appeared - the garden, the closed room, traveling on the road, descending from heaven and the many times he appeared. I think often of discernment - would I have recognized him? Most likely not. These people had righteous hearts who had lived and walked with him and they did not see him at first. I do not think myself more spiritually mature than them. But another question follows that one - will I recognize him when he comes again? I hope with all my heart the answer is yes. And to that end, I study discernment. I look for the good in others. I am trying to think and ponder and prayerfully see.

I love how the graves are torn open. I imagine the impatience of the last few moments for these people waiting to be resurrected after such a long time. I imagine the moment that I will see my mom again. Her earthly body taught her spirit so many things and I am grateful for all of those blessings. But I also can hardly wait to see her glorified and perfected body. To see her not only walk but run.

I made Resurrection Cinnamon Rolls (pictures and instructions are at the end of this insanely long post) for breakfast. I have spent the morning reading all of the accounts of the resurrection and the burial and resurrection chapters in "Jesus the Christ." We will watch the "Lamb of God" dvd and maybe even the "Easter Dream" dvd sometime today. I have re-watched some of the apostles testimonies on youtube - I especially love Elder McKonkie's last testimony "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane". I first read his testimony in Spanish on my testimony and still have some of the words memorized in Spanish.

There are many activities that we did not get to do this past week. The LOA (love one another) poster where we write love messages all week long to each other. The Service Star where we do quiet acts of service for each other and leave the star to tag the another person. The many stories to read together. I will record my testimony in my journal today and I will write Ryan a letter today and for this year, it is enough.

We are having a first today - leg of lamb for dinner with potatoes, green beans (NOT Green Bean casserole - yuk!), salad and lemon bars for desert. I have never made Leg of Lamb (good thing for Allrecipes.com) and I have never made lemon bars for Easter before, but I really like the idea. They are bright and sweet and a joyful color. They remind me of the sunrise and the joy that came this beautiful morn.

I hope that each of you have a joyful Easter. That you experience those moments of pure joy when you feel all of your loved ones, even those who have passed on, close to you. That you feel the Savior close to you. That you feel the miracles of the atonement, of the resurrection, of today.

All my love,
Jewels

Resurrection Cinnamon Rolls~