COME FOLLOW ME
EASTER
Commentary by Lynne Hilton Wilson Ph.D.
Jesus Triumphal Entry to Resurrection
This Easter week, we step out of the New Testament (NT) order sequence to study the main events recorded in the last week of Jesus’ life in connection with our Easter celebration.
The message of Easter is critical to the message of the Book of Mormon. There we find an enhanced understanding of the Atonement, sacrament, and resurrection (I will touch on these at the end of this commentary).
First, we will walk through events from each day during the last week of Jesus’ life, as described in the Gospels (and in D&C 138).
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Sunday: Jesus’ Triumphal Entry
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Monday: Jesus’ Cleansing the Temple, according to the Synoptics (John has it at the beginning)
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Tuesday: Jesus’ Teaching in the Temple
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Wednesday: Jesus’ Olivet Sermon on the Second Coming
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Thursday: Preparing for Passover, Jesus’ Last Supper, and Gethsemane
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Friday: Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial before Passover begins
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Saturday: While Jesus’ body in the tomb, He organizes missionary work in the Spirit World
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Sunday: Jesus’ Resurrection
CFM Print Friendly PDF
Haggadah with LDS history
The Triumphal Entry Text
(all biblical translation is from Berean Study Bible)
MATT 21:1–11
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1 And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey having been tied, and a colt with her. Having united them, bring them to Me, 3 and if anyone says anything to you, you will say that the Lord has need of them, and he will send them immediately.” 4 And this came to pass, that it might be fulfil-led that having been spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King comes to you, gentle and mounted on a donkey, even upon a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” 6 And the disciples having gone and having done as Jesus commanded them, 7 brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks upon them, and He sat on them. 8 And the very great crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting down branches from the trees and were spreading them on the road. 9 And the crowds going before Him and those following were crying out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And of Him having entered into Jerusalem all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet, Jesus, the One from Nazareth of Galilee.”
MARK 11:1–11
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1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.’” 4 So they went and found the colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. They untied it, 5 and some who were standing there asked, “Why are you untying the colt?” 6 The disciples answered as Jesus had instructed them, and the people gave them permission. 7 Then they led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, and He sat on it. 8 Many in the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut from the fields. 9 The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!” 11 Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts.
He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.