“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”[i] His invitation to “Come, follow me” is not just an invitation to believe in Him, but a call for walking in His footsteps, saying the things He said, doing the things He did in the way He did them and enduring the crosses of the world as He did. So if there is a way of Christ, a path, or a narrow trail what is it? A way has to have an entrance or gate. What is it? He said:
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.”[ii] One of the first things in His ministry that He did was go to John, the Baptist, his cousin to be baptized. The Gospel of Mark says:
“And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”[iii]Jesus did not need a “forgiveness of sins” since He was without sin. But He did want to show us the way, the gate and the life of following Him. So He was baptized “to fulfill all righteousness.”[iv] We need a “forgiveness of sins” and need baptism as a symbol of being cleansed from all sin. Jesus said to inquiring Nicodemus:
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”[v] Here Jesus clearly states that baptism by water is the gate to the path of following Him, the gate to the kingdom of God. He also states that it is like being born again into a new life as one of His followers, His disciples.
There is great power in being cleansed from all sin through baptism. Jesus said:
“And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done.”[vi]The narrow way, the covenant path, is the least miserable way through life that can be difficult at times. Jesus Christ said:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”vii It is much less miserable than the “wages of sin” and as Jesus said, when we are baptized and cleansed from sin, we can get answer to our prayers.
[i] John 14:6 NIV
[ii] John 10:9 KJV
[iii] Mark 1:4 NIV
[iv] Matthew 3:15 KJV
[v] John 3:5 KJV
[vi] D&C 50:29
vii Matthew 11:28-30