Easter, Remembrance of Christ

Easter is all about Christ!  It is a celebration of what He did for all of us.  Easter is a time to remember the death and resurrection of our Lord.  A time to remember the sacrifice made; a sacrifice that we could not do.  "For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord."(Helaman 14:15).  A sacrifice that has opened the door to Heaven.  Opened the gate to all if we repent and turn to Him.  "Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God."(Helaman 3:28).
 
The Passover (Exodus 12)
The Children of Israel were in bondage to the Egyptians.  God sent Moses to deliver His people.  There were many plagues, miracles, performed.  Up to this point, 9 to be exact.  Pharaoh would not let the people go.  The last plague would kill all of the firstborn.  "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord."(Exodus 12:12).  The Lord instituted the passover to save the children of Israel from the destruction.  He commanded that they would take a male lamb without blemish of the first year and kill it.  "And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it."(Verse 7).  If they did this they would be safe.  "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt."(Verse 13).  The blood of the lamb saved them.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ
Christ is the Lamb of God.(see John 1:36).  He is the Lamb without blemish, male, and firstborn of the Father.  "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"(1 Peter 1:18-19).  "For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice."(Alma 34:10).  Christ came, died, and overcame death!  He was the sacrifice.  By His blood we are saved!

Christ has already paved the path.  We have the choice to accept the sacrifice, or to not.  Christ has said, "Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.  For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men."(Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-19).  I am so thankful for the sacrifice of my Savior!  Because He died, we can all live!

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