What Does the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Mean to You?

My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20-21 in a lesson titled “He Is Risen.” The counsel preceding the lesson was to prayerfully read the above listed chapters, “reflecting on the joy you have because of the Resurrection of Christ. Who might be blessed by hearing your testimony of this event?” The lesson was introduced with the following information. 

To many observers, the death of Jesus of Nazareth may have seemed like an ironic end to a remarkable life. Wasn’t this the man who raised Lazarus from the dead? Hadn’t He withstood the murderous threats from the Pharisees time after time? He had demonstrated power to heal blindness, leprosy, and palsy. The very winds and the seas obeyed Him. And yet here He was, hanging from a cross, declaring, “It is finished” (John 19:30). There may have been some sincere surprise in the mocking words “He saved others; himself he cannot save” (Matthew 27:42). But we know that Jesus’s death was not the end of the story. We know that the silence of the tomb was temporary and that Christ’s saving work was just beginning. He is found today not “among the dead” but among the living (Luke 24:5). His teachings would not be silenced, for His loyal disciples would preach the gospel in “all nations,” trusting His promise that He would be “with [them] always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).

As with most scripture blocks, there are several principles that I could discuss in this post, but I feel impressed to discuss this one: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:19-29). The scripture block is as follows.

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

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

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send 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 remit, 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 print 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 thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

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

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

Millions of people on earth today have not seen the Risen Savior, yet they believe that He lives. I am one of them, and I believe in the Living Christ because the Holy Ghost bears witness of Him. I also believe because I have studied the scriptures testify that He lives. I also listen to living prophets and apostles who testify that He lives. Elder S. Mark Palmer, a member of the Seventy Quorum, testified of the following in the April 2021 General Conference. 

This conference weekend you will hear living apostles and prophets testify of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day[;] … all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to [this truth].” I promise that as you listen with real intent, the Spirit will confirm in your mind and your heart the truth of these testimonies.

Jesus’s ancient Apostles were forever changed after He appeared to them following His death. Ten of them saw for themselves that He had been resurrected. Thomas, being initially absent, declared, “Except I shall see ..; I will not believe.” Later Jesus admonished Thomas, “Be not faithless, but believing.” Then the Lord taught the vital role of faith: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

A video about this scripture can be found at this site.