“April 3–9. Easter: ‘O Grave, Where Is Thy Victory?,’” Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 (2022)

“April 3–9. Easter,” Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: 2023

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Garden Tomb

April 3–9

Easter

“O Grave, Where Is Thy Victory?”

As you read the testimonies of the Savior’s Resurrection in this outline, make note of the feelings and impressions that come to you from the Holy Ghost.

Record Your Impressions

During the last week of the Savior’s life, many Jews around Him were participating in the traditions of Passover. They prepared meals, sang songs, and gathered together to remember the deliverance of the house of Israel from slavery to the Egyptians. Families listened to the story of the destroying angel passing over the homes of their ancestors who had marked their doors with lamb’s blood. Amid all these celebrations so rich with the symbolism of deliverance, relatively few were aware that Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was about to deliver them from the slavery of sin and death—through His suffering, His death, and His Resurrection. Even so, there were those who recognized Jesus as their promised Messiah, their eternal Deliverer. From that time onward, disciples of Jesus Christ have borne witness to all the world “that Christ died for our sins … ; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

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Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Matthew 21–28

Jesus Christ delivers me from sin and death, strengthens me in my weaknesses, and comforts me in my trials.

One way to focus on the blessings of the Savior’s Atonement this week is to spend time each day reading about the last week of Jesus’s life (a possible reading schedule follows). What do you find in these chapters that helps you feel the Savior’s love? Ponder what these chapters teach you about how He can deliver you from sin, death, trials, and weaknesses. How are you exercising faith in His power of deliverance?

Sunday: Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:6–11)
Monday: Cleansing the temple (Matthew 21:12–16)
Tuesday: Teaching in Jerusalem (Matthew 21–23)
Wednesday: Continued teaching (Matthew 24–25)
Thursday: The Passover and Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26)
Friday: Trial, Crucifixion, and burial (Matthew 27:1–61)
Saturday: Christ’s body lies in the tomb (Matthew 27:62–66) while He ministers in the spirit world (Doctrine and Covenants 138)
Sunday: Jesus Christ’s Resurrection and appearance to His disciples (Matthew 28:1–10)

Many witnesses testify of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Imagine what it would have been like for the disciples to watch Jesus being mocked, mistreated, and crucified. They had witnessed His power, felt the truth of His teachings, and had faith that He was the Son of God. Witnessing His death must have caused His disciples to feel grief and confusion. But soon they became witnesses of the great miracle of His Resurrection.

What can you learn from the accounts of those who witnessed the Resurrected Savior? Mark or note each person’s experience in Matthew 28:1–10; Luke 24:13–35; John 20:19–29; and 1 Corinthians 15:1–8, 55. (Other witnesses of the resurrected Christ can be found in 3 Nephi 11; Mormon 1:15; Ether 12:38–39; Doctrine and Covenants 76:19–24; 110:1–10; and Joseph Smith—History 1:15–17.) What impresses you about the testimonies of these witnesses? After the Savior’s Resurrection, others were resurrected and appeared to many (see Matthew 27:52–53; 3 Nephi 23:9). How does your faith in the Savior and the promise of resurrection influence the way you live?

See also “Jesus Is Resurrected,” “The Risen Lord Appears to the Apostles,” “Blessed Are They That Have Not Seen, and Yet Have Believed” (videos), ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

1 Peter 1:3–11

Jesus Christ gives me hope and joy.

What words or phrases in 1 Peter 1:3–11 give you hope because of Jesus Christ? When have you felt that hope?

Elder Gerrit W. Gong testified that the Resurrection “gives hope to those who have lost limbs; those who have lost ability to see, hear, or walk; or those thought lost to relentless disease, mental illness, or other diminished capacity. He finds us. He makes us whole. … [Also,] because ‘God himself atoneth for the sins of the world’ [Alma 42:15], … He can, with mercy, succor us according to our infirmities. … We repent and do all we can. He encircles us eternally ‘in the arms of his love’ [2 Nephi 1:15]” (“Hosanna and Hallelujah—The Living Jesus Christ: The Heart of Restoration and Easter,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 54).

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Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Home Evening

ComeuntoChrist.org.Easter.ComeuntoChrist.org contains a timeline and description of what happened on each day of the last week of the Savior’s life. Each day of the week, your family could review these descriptions to see what the Savior did that day, or you could read about His last week in the scriptures as a family (see a suggested list in “Ideas for Personal Scripture Study” above).

Hymns and Children’s Songbook.Consider singing songs together about the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection during this week, including some that are less familiar to you. (See the topics index of Hymns or Children’s Songbook, under topics such as “Atonement,” “Easter,” or “Resurrection.”) To help family members learn the songs, you could show pictures that go with the words.

“Jesus Christ” collection in Gospel Library.The Gospel Library collection titled “Jesus Christ” includes videos, artwork, and music that can help your family celebrate the Savior’s Resurrection this Easter.

“The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.”As a family, read “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite each family member to pick an Easter message from this testimony to share with others. For example, you might create posters to display on social media, on your front door, or in your home.

For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.

Suggested song: “Jesus Has Risen,” Children’s Songbook, 70.

Improving Personal Study

Set manageable goals. Spending even a few minutes a day studying the scriptures can bless your life. Commit to studying each day, find a way to remind yourself of your commitment, and do your best to follow through. If you forget, don’t give up. Just start again.