(Easter Special) Greater Love

TODAY IS EASTER SUNDAY—a day of sacred remembrance and joyful celebration! Easter is an opportunity for each of us to remember the sacred events from the final days of Jesus’s ministry, including the Last Supper, His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, and of course, His Crucifixion, death, and burial. But as we know, even the sealed tomb could not contain Him and Jesus Christ victoriously arose, resurrected with a body of flesh and bone, on the third day—the day we celebrate as Easter Sunday.

Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry was one of perfect love. He said, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” 1 He then went on to teach about something He called “greater love,” saying, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” 2 Jesus Christ laid down His life for you and me, His friends. And it’s this great sacrifice—this greater love—that is known as the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ’s Atonement includes His suffering, death, and Resurrection, which together make it possible for us to return home to God and to receive heavenly help along the way.

The Savior’s greater love is more powerful than our biggest mistakes. Because of His Atonement, we can repent and begin anew. Jesus’s greater love is stronger than our deepest sorrow, depression, and even our most vexing anxieties. Because of His Atonement, we can find peace and hope.

Our Savior’s greater love overpowers the chains of death.3 As difficult, final, and hollow as death may seem, it is not the end. Although “weeping may endure for a night,” we can be certain that “joy [will come] in the morning.” 4 Because of Christ’s Atonement, we will all be resurrected and live again beyond the grave.

Because of all this and more, today and always, we celebrate the greater love of Jesus Christ!

References:1. John 15:122. John 15:133. See Doctrine and Covenants 45:174. Psalm 30:5