He Is Risen

By Rebecca M. Taylor

He is not here: for he is risen (Matt. 28:6).

1 Jesus and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. After telling His disciples to wait, Jesus went to a private spot and prayed to Heavenly Father. While in the Garden, and continuing until He died on the cross, He suffered for the sins of all people so that if they repent of them, they can return to live with Heavenly Father.

2 A group of men carrying weapons were sent by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem to the Garden to arrest Jesus. To let them know who Jesus was, Judas, one of the apostles, betrayed Him with a kiss. The men took Jesus away to the chief priest.

3 The religious leaders in Jerusalem said Jesus should be put to death because He said that He was the Son of God. They didn’t believe that He was speaking the truth.

4 They took Jesus to Pilate, the ruler of Judea. Pilate didn’t think that Jesus should die, but when he asked the people what he should do with Jesus, they cried, “Crucify him.”

5 Jesus was beaten, then led to a place called Golgotha. Soldiers nailed Him to a cross. Jesus had compassion on the soldiers and said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” After hanging on the cross about six hours, Jesus died.

6 Jesus’ followers were filled with grief. They put His body in a tomb cut into a hillside. A stone was rolled in front of the tomb to protect His body.

7 In the morning of the third day, Mary Magdalene came to the garden. The stone had been rolled away, and the tomb was empty. She began to weep, for she thought that someone had stolen Jesus’ body. Then she saw a man standing behind her. He said to her, “Mary,” and she knew He was Jesus!

8 Jesus had risen from the dead. Because He loves all of Heavenly Father’s children, He made it possible for us to live again, too, and if we follow His teachings, we may return to dwell with Him and Heavenly Father forever. (See Matt. 26:36–28:8; Mark 14:32–16:18; Luke 22:39–24:10; John 18:1–20:18.)

Illustrated by Jerry Harston