LDS New Testament Images - Page 5

The Betrayal of Jesus

(Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 26:46-50; Mark 14:42-46; Luke 22:47-48; John 18:38, John 18:12)
Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? (Luke 22:48)

After Jesus finished praying in Gethsemane, He awoke His Apostles, saying, "Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me" (Matthew 26:46). While Jesus was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, brought a large group of men that had been sent by the chief priests and elders. They were carrying swords and clubs. (Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:42-43; Luke 22:47; John 18:3).

Judas had plotted with the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus, having agreed to lead them to Him if they would pay 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16; John 18:2). Judas told the armed men who accompanied him, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast" (Matthew 26:48; Mark 14:44). Judas then came to Jesus and said, "Hail, master," and kissed Him (Matthew 26:49; Mark 14:45). Knowing that Judas had betrayed Him, Jesus said, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:48).

Then Jesus stepped forth and asked the group of men, "Whom seek ye?" They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus told them, "I am he." At this, the group stepped back and fell to the ground. Jesus asked them again whom they sought. Again they answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said, "I have told you that I am he," and He asked that His followers be permitted to leave unharmed. (John 18:48). He then allowed Himself to be arrested (John 18:12; Matthew 26:50; Mark 14:46).

Summary

Judas, one of the Apostles, went to the Jewish leaders and plotted to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He led a group of men armed with swords and clubs to Jesus and the other Apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas greeted Jesus and kissed Him, which was the signal for the men to know which person was Jesus. Jesus allowed the men to arrest Him but asked that His followers be permitted to go unharmed.

Artist, Ted Henninger

The Crucifixion

(Matthew 27:33-50; Mark 15:22-37; Luke 23:32-46; John 19:17-37)
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him. (Luke 23:33)

Jesus was taken to a hill called Golgotha or Calvary to be crucified. Roman soldiers nailed His hands and feet to a cross and raised it between two thieves who were also crucified. (Matthew 27:33-35, Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:22, Mark 15:27; Luke 23:33; John 19:17-18).

As the Roman soldiers finished their awful task, Jesus prayed with great mercy, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

The guards and the soldiers made fun of Jesus. Some said, "If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself" (Luke 23:37). The leaders of the Jews cried aloud, "He saved others; himself he cannot save" (Matthew 27:42; Mark 15:31). They said they would believe He was the Messiah if He would come down from the cross. People passing by called out, "If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross" (Matthew 27:40; Matthew 27:39-43; Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:35-37).

One thief hanging by Jesus said, "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us" (Luke 23:39). The other thief reminded his companion that they were being crucified justly, but Jesus had done nothing wrong. This thief said to Jesus, "Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42). Jesus answered, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

Jesus' mother, Mary, came to Calvary. The Apostle John was also there. Jesus looked down at His mother and said to her, "Woman, behold thy son," and to John, "Behold thy mother" (John 19:26-27). Jesus wanted John to take care of Mary. John led Mary away from the cross and "took her into his own home" (John 19:27).

At noonday, about three hours after Jesus was nailed to the cross, darkness spread across the land (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44-45). About three hours later, Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), see also (Mark 15:34). Jesus' suffering was almost more than He could stand. The Savior atoned for us by suffering in Gethsemane and by giving His life on the cross. Heavenly Father had to let Him do it alone. (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).

Having accomplished His mission, Jesus exclaimed, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Then He said, "Father, into thy hands I commend [give] my spirit." Jesus bowed His head and gave up His life. (Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46; John 19:30).

Summary

Jesus was taken to a place called Calvary. Roman soldiers nailed His hands and feet to a cross and raised it between two thieves. Having mercy for the soldiers, Jesus asked Heavenly Father to forgive them. Jesus hung, suffering pain, thirst, and ridicule. One of the thieves taunted Jesus, but the other defended Him. When Jesus saw that His mother, Mary, had come to Calvary, He asked the Apostle John to care for her. Later, as Jesus continued to suffer, He cried out to Heavenly Father, asking why the Father had forsaken Him. This great anguish was part of the Savior's suffering to pay for our sins. When His mission had been fulfilled, Jesus gave up His life.

Artist, Harry Anderson

Jesus' Tomb

(Matthew 27:59-28:8; Mark 15:46; Mark 16:18; Luke 23:53; Luke 24:112; John 19:39-42; John 20:110)
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. (Luke 24:13)

After Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, another disciple of Jesus, took the body down from the cross and prepared it for burial according to Jewish burial custom. They laid Jesus' body in Joseph's new sepulchre (tomb), which was in a garden near where Jesus was crucified. They then rolled a stone against the tomb doorway. (Matthew 27:59-60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53; John 19:39-42).

The Pharisees and chief priests, afraid that the followers of Jesus would try to steal His body and then claim that He had been resurrected, asked Pilate to place guards around the tomb. When Pilate agreed, "they ... made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch" (Matthew 27:66; Matthew 27:62-65).

On the third day after Jesus' death (on the first day of the week), Mary Magdalene and several other women went to the tomb to put spices and ointments on the body of Jesus. When they arrived, they saw that the stone had been rolled away from the sepulchre and that Jesus' body was gone. (Matthew 28:12; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:13, Luke 24:10; John 20:1). As they entered the tomb, they saw a "young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment. ... And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here" (Mark 16:56; Matthew 28:27; Luke 24:47).

When Mary Magdalene saw that the tomb was empty, "she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him" (John 20:2). Peter and John followed Mary back to the tomb and saw for themselves that the burial clothes were there but the body of Jesus was gone (John 20:39).

Summary

After Jesus was crucified, His disciples laid His body in a new tomb. A large stone was rolled in front of the opening. The Pharisees and chief priests were afraid Jesus' followers would take away the body and claim He had risen from the dead, so they posted guards at the tomb. On the third day after Jesus died, Mary Magdalene and several other women went to the tomb. The stone had been rolled away, and Jesus' body was gone. A young man clothed in white told them that Jesus was risen. Mary Magdalene ran to tell Peter and John that Jesus' body had been taken away. They went back to the tomb with her and found it empty except for Jesus' burial clothes.

Mary and the Resurrected Lord

(John 20:10-18)
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:16)

Having found Jesus' tomb empty on the third day after His death, Mary Magdalene ran to tell Peter and John. They went back with her and saw for themselves that Jesus' body was not there. After Peter and John went home, Mary stood weeping outside the empty tomb. She looked into the sepulchre and saw two angels in white. Both were sitting where Jesus' body had lain. The angels asked Mary why she was crying. She said, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him" (John 20:13; John 20:10-12).

Mary turned away and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize Him. He asked her why she was crying and whom she was looking for. Mary thought He was the gardener or caretaker and said, "Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away" (John 20:15; John 20:14).

Then Jesus said, "Mary." Mary turned and recognized Him and cried, "Rabboni," which means Master. (John 20:16).

Jesus asked Mary not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to His Father in Heaven. He told her to go to the Apostles and tell them that she had seen Him. Jesus said, "Say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" (John 20:17).

Mary hurried to tell the Apostles that she had seen the Lord and that He had spoken to her (John 20:18).

Summary

Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside Jesus' tomb. She stooped to look inside and saw two angels, who asked her why she wept. Mary said she did not know where Jesus' body had been taken. As she turned back, Mary noticed someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she did not recognize Him until He spoke her name. The Savior explained that He had not yet ascended to His Father in Heaven and asked her to tell the Apostles the things He said to her. Mary ran quickly to tell the Apostles that she had seen the risen Lord.

Artist, Harry Anderson

Jesus Shows His Wounds

(Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-20, John 20:24)
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (Luke 24:39)

The Sunday evening after Jesus was resurrected, the Apostles and some other disciples were gathered together discussing the Resurrection. Suddenly Jesus appeared to them and said, "Peace be unto you" (Luke 24:36; John 20:19).

They were frightened because they thought they were seeing a spirit. Jesus asked, "Why are ye troubled?" (Luke 24:38; Luke 24:37).

"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Luke 24:39).

Jesus showed them the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. To further prove to them that He was not a spirit but had a body, Jesus asked for something to eat. They gave Jesus a piece of broiled fish and a piece of honeycomb, and He ate in front of them. They were happy to see the Savior and to know He had been resurrected. (Luke 24:40-43; John 20:20).

Summary

Not long after His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Apostles and some other disciples. They were frightened because they thought He was a spirit. Jesus showed them the wounds in His hands, feet, and side and invited the members of the group to touch Him so they would know He was not just a spirit. Jesus also asked for food and ate fish and honey to show that He had a resurrected body. The Apostles and other disciples rejoiced to see their risen Lord.

Artist, Harry Anderson