With Healing In His Wings

After studying the New Testament in my high school seminary class last school year, I knew that reading the New Testament one time through would never be enough. If you haven't read the New Testament for yourself, I challenge you to read and study it. Even if you haven't gotten the chance to read it lately, do it. It's a beautiful book of scripture that contains pure testimony from those who knew Christ firsthand. It testifies that He is the Son of the Living God, and more importantly, that He lives.

Chapter 19 of the Book of John is an account of the Savior's suffering and death. This one of the hardest chapters in all scripture for me to read, but comfort came to me when I searched a cross-reference from the footnotes in the scriptures. It is found in the Book of Mormon, another Testament of Jesus Christ, and another book I highly recommend reading. One of the Lord's prophets, Nephi, writes "Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on His name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name." (2 Nephi 25:13, Book of Mormon, italics and bold added)

In my weekly Institute class (a class for young adults to learn more about Christ and His Gospel) we were challenged to find a scripture that would help someone we love to resist and avoid the enticements of the flesh. I sat and pondered and finally came up with Isaiah 53:3-5.
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not...Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted... But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed."

Why would that help? It's the very reason I'm posting today. It's because Jesus Christ IS the reason. He's why we have everything, why we are given so much. He is the Master Creator and Teacher, He is the King of Kings and the Holiest of Holies. He is our Savior.
He didn't suffer without a cause. He suffered for us, for when we are weak it is through Him that we can become strong. Ever feel like giving up? Don't. The Savior didn't give up when He chose to suffer for you. Is it hard to fight temptation, to overcome sorrow, to believe that very bands of death have been broken? Yes. Yes it is. In fact, it seems rather impossible. But in the end we must remember, "with God nothing is impossible." (Luke 1:37; KJV)

If you are sick, if you are worried, if you are failing, please remember that Christ HAS risen with "healing in his wings". Please remember if you are suffering that "with His stripes we are healed". If you can, if you will, and if you recognize the pure joy that comes from our Savior, echo with me the voice of the prophet. "My soul delighteth to prophesy concerning Him... and my heart doth magnify His holy name."

"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.. that by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God." (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24)

Please feel free to visit http://www.lds.org/bible-videos to watch Bible videos. They strengthen my confidence in Christ and I'm sure they will do the same for you.