Christ:

The Final Week of His Ministry

Wood Engravings by Gustave Doré

In an earlier issue of the Tambuli (December 1992), we looked at events surrounding the birth and mission of Jesus Christ, as illustrated in wood engravings by French artist Gustave Doré (1832–1883). Now, at Easter time, we look at the final week of the Savior’s mortal ministry.

The restored gospel gives important perspective to the suffering and death of the Savior. Before Christ was born, Alma prophesied that the Savior “shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind. …

“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11–12).

The Savior himself later taught the Nephites that the Atonement is the essence of his gospel: “This is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

“And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, … to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil” (3 Ne. 27:13–15).

Jesus Christ—“the Lamb … slain from the foundation of the world” (Moses 7:47)—fully understood his mission. In the premortal world, when the Father asked, “Whom shall I send?” the Son willingly answered: “Here am I, send me” (Abr. 3:27).

Wood engravings by Gustave Doré

“People that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:12–13).

“And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Luke 19:45–46).

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:26–28).

“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep” (Matt. 26:39–40).

Pilate “saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:14–15).

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” (Luke 23:33).

“Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices. … Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus” (John 19:40–42).

“And [Jesus] said unto them, … Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight” (Acts 1:7–9).