“There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the atonement of Christ” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 20).
Today, as I watched the video below, I was touched by the look in Thomas’ face (near the end) while seeing the wounds in Christ’s hands from the nails driven through them—healed, but remaining as a witness that it was, indeed, Jesus Christ.
I thought that he must be thinking, “But I saw you suffer!” Suffering, then death, then resurrection—so that all the children of mankind may be resurrected and reunited with our Heavenly Father. How glorious. How amazing. How loving. How kind. Glory be to God for His sacrifice and loving kindness unto us all.
Thomas must have been astounded. Seeing Christ die then live again! It was unheard of, beyond comprehension, until the EXPERIENCE changed Thomas life through his experiential understanding.
I’ve learned that spiritual experiences are not only things you see, but witnesses to our hearts through feelings. I’ve learned through countless experiences, especially experiences with suffering, that Christ still lives and loves us all. I know that the God to which he ascended IS our Heavenly Father, and that Heavenly Father DOES hear and answer our prayers. Not only did Jesus provide the resurrection, that someday our own body can reunite with our own spirit, but I humbly and deeply appreciate the price Christ paid to make a way that we might repent of our sins (change our hearts and ways) in order to be reunited someday with Heavenly Father. It’s a great feeling to know we can qualify for blessings instead of punishments (no matter what we’ve done), through the great gift of the Atonement that Christ provides IF we will repent, humbly and sincerely, and ask for his mercy to cleanse us from our sins, so that we will no longer be spiritually separated from God, we will find peace, and comfort and HOPE.
My hope is in Christ. “He paid a price he didn’t owe because we owed a debt we could not pay.” It is in He whom I put my trust.
From the words of Thomas S. Monson: No words in Christendom mean more to me than those spoken by the angel to the weeping Mary Magdalene and the other Mary when, on the first day of the week, they approached the tomb to care for the body of their Lord. Spoke the angel: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place—the victory over death. The pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary had been wiped away. The salvation of mankind had been secured. The Fall of Adam had been reclaimed.
May this video bring you peace, understanding and reassurance. Happy Easter!