Rev. Moon: Easter ‘A Day I Can Never Forget’
FFWPU-USA
April 2, 2021 is Good Friday, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. On Sunday, April 4, we observe the Easter holiday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. We also remember the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon’s life-changing spiritual encounter with Jesus on Easter morning in 1935, which ultimately led him to start the worldwide Unification movement.
Rev. Moon recalled his meeting with Jesus as “the most cherished memory of my life” and “a day I can never forget” in his 2009 autobiography, As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen.
At age 16, atop Mount Myodu in North Korea, Rev. Moon accepted Jesus’s call to continue his mission of world salvation. Jesus revealed that his death and resurrection gave humanity spiritual redemption but not physical salvation. Thus, by 1945 after World War II, Rev. Moon published his revelations and teachings in the Divine Principle and began his public ministry.
Below is an excerpt from Rev. Moon’s book on his unforgettable encounter with Jesus:
“That morning, I saw clearly the sorrowful face of Jesus. I heard his voice clearly. The experience of witnessing the manifestation of Jesus caused my body to shake violently, like a quaking aspen’s leaves trembling in a strong breeze. I was simultaneously overcome with fear so great I felt I might die and gratitude so profound I felt I might explode. Jesus spoke clearly about the work I would have to do. His words were extraordinary, having to do with saving humanity from its suffering and bringing joy to God…
It was such a huge and tremendous responsibility. I shuddered in fear to think that I might not be able to handle it on my own. I clung to prayer even more than before, in an attempt to quiet my confused heart. But even this had no effect. No matter how much I tried, I could not free myself for even a moment from the memory of having met Jesus. My encounter with Jesus changed my life completely. His sorrowful expression was etched into my heart as if it had been branded there, and I could not think of anything else. From that day on, I immersed myself completely in the word of God…
On those days when my prayers and dedication connected to Heaven, Jesus appeared to me without fail and conveyed special messages. If I was earnest in my desire to know something, Jesus would appear with a gentle expression and give me answers of truth. His words were always on the mark, and they struck deep into my bosom like sharp arrows. These were not mere words; they were revelations about the creation of the universe that opened the door to a new world. When Jesus spoke, it seemed like a soft breeze, but I took his words to heart and prayed with an earnestness strong enough to uproot a tree. Gradually, I came into a new realization about God’s purpose in creating the universe, and His principles of creation.” —As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen
Rev. Moon emphasized to Unificationists three main points that Jesus revealed to him: God is the parent of humanity and we are His children; God’s original personality is true love and He created humanity and all things to fulfill His true love; and finally, as an invisible heavenly parent, God intends to establish physical True Parents on earth to save the world. Rev. Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, affectionately known as True Parents, have been tasked with this responsibility to save all people.
Today, let us honor Jesus’s sacrificial life, as well as the great mission he passed on to Rev. Moon.
You can get your copy of As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen here.
