As you consider the “greater love” of Jesus Christ during Holy Week, you can include the wisdom and reflections of President Jeffrey R. Holland in your Easter gospel study.
In a new video filmed in his office, President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reads from Matthew 27 in the Bible, recounting the events of Christ’s Crucifixion and emphasizing the taunts Jesus endured. He notes the repeated use of “if” in the challenges to Jesus, such as, “If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Noting Christ’s words, spoken in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” President Holland explains that while Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” the Father was never closer to His Son. Jesus, the Apostle teaches, had to experience that aloneness.
“The most straightforward declaration that we have in the canonized scripture of [the Crucifixion and the remarkable manifestations of Christ’s divinity] is from a Roman centurion, a nonbeliever, an atheist if you will, who says, ‘Truly, this was the Son of God,’” President Holland teaches. “And that’s my testimony to you.”
President Holland’s comments are an example of sincere Holy Week study. You are invited to engage in deeper study during these sacred days by using the Easter resources at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. You will find downloadable reflection journals for adults and children, a music playlist, Easter videos, children’s activities and more.