“The Savior’s Last Week,” New Era, Apr. 2015, 24–27
The Savior’s Last Week
This Easter, take time to reflect on the Savior’s life and sacrifice.
The events of the Savior’s life leading up to His Crucifixion and Resurrection can teach us a lot about His love for us. Each day during the week before Easter, think about how the following events in Jesus’s life can help you in your life. As you do so, your understanding and love for the Savior will increase.
Anointing at Bethany (Matthew 26:3–13; Mark 14:3–9; John 12:1–9)
When Jesus was having a meal with friends, Mary poured expensive ointment on his head. Some complained about the expense, but Jesus said, “Why trouble ye this woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me.
“For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
“For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial” (Matthew 26:10–12).
Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; John 12:12–15)
Jesus left Bethany five days before the Passover and traveled to Jerusalem. “On the next day much 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).
Healing and Teaching at the Temple
(Matthew 21:12–14, 23; Mark 11:17, 27; Luke 19:46–48; John 12:42–50)
Just as He had seen three years earlier, Jesus saw within the holy enclosure of the temple the crude and disgraceful buying and selling of goods. “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, …
“And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them” (Matthew 21:12, 14).
Last Supper
(Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:7–29; John 13:31–17:26)
During the Passover meal that Jesus spent with His disciples, the Savior instituted the sacrament, which is in remembrance of His sacrifice for us.
“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:19–20).
Gethsemane
Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane “and kneeled down, and prayed,
“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
“And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:41–44).
Betrayal, Trial, Abuse
(Matthew 26:45–27:26; Mark 14:41–15:15; Luke 22:47–23:25; John 18:2–19:16)
Jesus bore with patience the abuse that came during and after His trial.
“And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
“And said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him with their hands” (John 19:2–3).
Crucifixion
(Matthew 27:33–51; Mark 15:22–39; Luke 23:33–46; John 19:16–42)
Jesus Christ willingly died on the cross as a ransom for us all. He taught His disciples: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17–18).
Resurrection
(Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20)
After Christ was resurrected, He appeared to Mary Magdalene. “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17).