# 531 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 9:12 Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
Jesus uses the question of the disciples concerning Elijah to connect the ministry of the Baptizer with His own death and resurrection. Although the wording of this portion of Scripture is difficult, the best way to view it is simply this: Where does water baptism get its punch?
The answer is, it get's it's punch, it's efficacy, from the suffering, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus. Peter would restate this truth later on as we read in 1 Peter 3:20,21, “who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”
Baptism now saves us because it gives us the answer of a good conscience. ( a good conscience is one without guilt because all sin has been washed away.) And the clout of baptism or it's effectiveness is as Peter states, “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.!
The use of the term “through” here automatically includes our Lord's Passion and death on the cross.
Father, let me never look at baptism as some sort of cheap grace. It's clout and benefits came at a great price. Thank You Jesus
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