HE LIVES!

The Gift of Witnesses (Luke 24:36-43)
What a profound gift the Lord gave humanity when, after his ordeal in the garden and on the cross, he rose again and came in person to witness to the early apostles of the verity of His resurrection. No man had ever done this before. Even when he told the Apostles and disciples plainly that he would die and rise again, they did not understand. While scriptures testify of individuals being raised from the dead, none had ever raised themselves. Nor had they been raised to a glorified, immortal body that could no more die. There was no precedence to look to in comparison.
The gift that I speak of was given during his visit to the apostles behind closed doors. Upon seeing him they were scared speechless for they supposed a ghost had entered their midst. Understanding their troubled hearts, Christ commanded them to look at the wounds which remained upon his hands and feet. For he had fulfilled the words of Isaiah who said, “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16). The witness of their eyes, however, was insufficient.
He commanded them to “handle” him saying, “a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have.” But they still “believed not for joy, and wondered”. Perhaps they thought they were dreaming or experiencing a collective vision. Surely this was too good to be true… they still couldn’t fully believe what they were experiencing. The witness of touch was yet insufficient.
Then he said unto them, “Have ye any meat?” They did. They brought forth broiled fish and honeycomb… and then the gift of a third witness was given. “He took it, and did eat before them.” He planted in their minds that this experience was truly happening. They could now look at the empty dish, or partially eaten food and see, this was no apparition.
Still, in spite of these three witnesses, false doctrines perpetuated through the centuries that the risen Lord had no physical body to tabernacle his perfect spirit, but was a spirit without form, parts or passions. What a stubborn lot we are! What more could have been done to testify of this?
Then in the dawn of the 19th Century our Heavenly Father, and our risen Lord visited Joseph Smith several times and gave another tremendous witness, a witness to cap all other witnesses. Joseph would later say, “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. (D&C 76:22-23)
And that is my testimony also. Happy Easter.