As I have pondered that quote by our past prophet President Hinckley, I have tried to make my Easter celebration more devote and intentional. We often spend months in preparation for Christmas, buying gifts, listening to Christmas music, decorating, reading Christmas stories and scriptures, and serving others as we celebrate the miraculous birth of our great Exemplar and Savior Jesus Christ.
But the sole purpose that He was sent was to redeem us and break the bonds of death--to pave the path to our salvation--which was through the resurrection of our risen Lord on that glorious Easter morning.
I will try to make posts each day of this Holy Week of how I am trying to seek deeper meaning in my celebration of this Easter season. It is simply a way for me to be accountable in my worship and study this week. To get me going, I have used Eric Huntsman's book (my past Jerusalem professor), "God So Loved the World: The Final Days of the Savior's Life" as a supplement in my study and a great blog post on celebrating Easter http://mormonnerd.com/why-easter-should-be-more-like-christmas/
I have also loved listening to the Easter Pandora station this past month and the Lamb of God (you can also find the album on Spotify) by Rob Gardner, which is about the last week of Christ's life and ministry. This is an incredible resource of instantly bringing the Spirit of Easter more fully in your life.
PALM SUNDAY
Scripture Study:
- The Triumphal Entry (Mark 11:1-11; Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)
- Jesus' lament over Jerusalem (Luke 19: 41-44)
- Jesus' cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13; Luke 19: 45-48)
Two years ago I had the life-changing experience of doing the palm procession in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. It is a time of rejoicing in our King and Deliverer, Jesus Christ and singing Hosanna, which means "save [us] now"! I will quote from my journal:
One lady with the Filipino group started singing this song saying, "God is marvelous" and we quickly learned it and joined in, and then she kept going on saying the next verse: "God is excellent" then, "God is powerful," "God is merciful," "God is beautiful," "God is wonderful" and some others. We just kept singing it for at least 15 minutes. :) I didn't mind--it was so powerful to me because each of those declarations I sang were true. God and our Savior really are all of those things and more than we can ever imagine. I could have praised Him all day with that song.
This was a powerful experience and brought me to tears as I have further pondered on all the names of Christ and His different roles in my life and salvation.
Invitation:
Listen to "Hosanna (Thy Savior Hath Come)" http://www.spiremusic.org/lamb/album.php
While you listen to this song:
Ponder on how Jesus has saved you.
Think of how He is your King and how He has delivered you from bondage.
Look through this list of 208 names of Jesus and identify which ones resonate with you personally:
Advocate
Almighty
Almighty
God
Alpha
and Omega
Amen,
The
Ancient
of Days
Anointed
Anointed
One
Author
Author
of Eternal Salvation
Beginning
Beginning
and the Ending
Begotten
Beloved
Beloved
Son
Beloved
Son of God
Blessed
of God
Bread
of Life
Bridegroom
Bright
and Morning Star
Captain
of Man's Salvation
Captain
of Our Salvation
Carpenter
Carpenter's
Son
Chief
Cornerstone
Chosen
Chosen
of God
Christ
Christ
Child
Christ
of God
Christ
the Lamb
Comforter
Consolation
of Israel
Cornerstone
Counsellor
Creator
Creator
of All Things
Deliverer
Divine
Son
Door
of the Sheep
Emmanuel
End
of the Law
Endless
Eternal
Eternal
Father
Eternal
God
Eternal
Head
Eternal
Judge
Eternal
Judge of Quick and Dead
Everlasting
Father
Example
Exemplar
Faithful
and True
Father
Father
of Heaven and Earth
Finisher
Finisher
of faith
First
and the Last
Firstborn
Firstfruits
Forerunner
God
God
of Abraham
God
of Isaac
God
of Israel
God
of Jacob
God
of Thy Father
God
of Whole Earth
God's
Anointed
God's
Holy Child Jesus
Good
Shepherd
Governor
Great
I AM
Great
God
Great
Shepherd
Head
of Every Man
Head
of the Body
Head
of the Church
Healer
Heir
of All Things
Holy
Holy
Child
Holy
Messiah
Holy
One
Holy
One of Israel
Holy
One of Jacob
I
AM
Image
of God
Immanuel
Jehovah
Jesus
Jesus
Christ
Jesus
of Galilee
Jesus
of Nazareth
Joseph's
Son
Judge
Judge
of Quick and Dead
Just
One
Just,
The
King
King
of Israel
King
of Kings
King
of Zion/Sion
King
of the Jews
Lamb
Lamb
of God
Life,
the
Light
of the World
Light,
the
Lion
of the Tribe of Juda
Living
Bread
Living
Stone
Living
Water
Lord
Lord
from Heaven
Lord
God
Lord
God Almighty
Lord
God of Hosts
Lord
Jehovah
Lord
Jesus
Lord
of All
Lord
of Dead
Lord
of Glory
Lord
of Hosts
Lord
of Living
Lord
of Lords
Lord
of the Sabbath
Lord
Omnipotent
Lord
our Righteousness
Lord's
Christ
Maker
Man
of Counsel
Man
of Holiness
Master
Mediator
Meek
and Lowly
Messenger
of the Covenant
Messiah
Messias
Mighty
God
Mighty
One
Mighty
One of Israel
Mighty
One of Jacob
Minister
Most
High God
Nazarene
Offspring
of David
One
Body
Only
Begotten
Only
Begotten of the Father
Only
Begotten Son
Our
Passover
Physician
Power
of God
Prince
Prince
of Life
Prince
of Peace
Prophet
Prophet
of Nazareth
Propitiation
for Sins of Whole World
Rabbi
Redeemer
Redeemer
of Israel
Redeemer
of the World
Resurrection
and the Life
Revealer
Righteous
Judge
Righteous
Man
Rock,
the
Rock
of Heaven
Root
of Jesse
Sacrifice,
the
Savior
Savior
of Israel
Savior
of the World
Second
Comforter
Seed
of Abraham
Seed
of David
Seed
of the Woman
Servant
of Jehovah
Servant
of the Lord
Shepherd
Son
Son
of Abraham
Son
of David
Son
of God
Son
of Man
Son
of Mary
Son
of Righteousness
Son
of the Blessed
Son
of the Eternal Father
Son
of the Everlasting God
Son
of the Highest
Son
of the Living God
Son
of the Most High God
Spiritual
Rock
Stem
of Jesse
Teacher
Come from God
True
Vine
Truth,
the
Unchangeable
One
Way,
the
Well
Beloved
Wisdom
of God
Wonderful
Word
of Life
Word,
the
Worthy
To me, my Jesus is my Advocate, my Comforter, Creator, Deliverer, my Example, the Finisher of my Faith, my Good Shepherd, my Healer, my King, the Lamb of God, the Light of the World, the Living Water, Meek and Lowly, Prince of Peace, Redeemer, the Rock, and the Way.
Ultimately, Jesus is my Friend. I am so thankful for my closest, heavenly and perfect Friend. He has been there for me and delivered me from pain and sin. He has saved me!
Natalie I love the list of names for the Savior. I have given lessons including all the names of Christ, but I don't think it was as complete as yours. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteNatalie I love the list of names for the Savior. I have given lessons including all the names of Christ, but I don't think it was as complete as yours. Thank you.
ReplyDelete