He is Risen!

Yesterday, my grandson was baptised.  I couldn't help thinking that it was so fitting that this ordinance was done on the day before Easter, with his confirmation following today.  Fitting, because yesterday represented the day when Jesus' body was in the tomb.  When we decide to be baptized we repent and confess our sins, "killing" the old and sinful person we had been.  Then we are buried in the water as Christ was buried in the tomb.  When we come up out of the water, it is symbolic of Christ's resurrection.  We come out of the water clean, risen from a watery "grave" as a new person in Jesus Christ.  As I said, fitting. 
 
Paul wrote to the Romans:

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (6: 3-6; 8-11)
 
So I celebrate today in remembrance of Jesus Christ who took upon Himself the sins of the world, who died for us, and was resurrected.  He holds the keys to death and hell.  Through Him, all who live and die will be resurrected, for death is conquered, man is free.  He unlocks the gates of hell for all who come unto Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit; who are buried with Him in the baptismal waters and arise clean to a new life.  Like my grandson.

He is risen!  Christ is risen indeed!

Text copyright Gebara Education Easter Sunday 2013

 

Picture from various sources on the web including www.lds.org