There is something so special about Easter Liles. We deliver these beautiful flowers not to remember the death but resurrection of our Lord Jesus. They bring joy and the truth that our God has taken us in His hands. They give us a chance to spread his word and share his hope and resurrection through service to others.
Lilium longiflorum
Somewhere while the Easter lilies
Swing their perfumed censers white,
Softened rays of sunlight falling
In lines aslant, and warm, and bright,
Shall gild the altar, nave and chancel;
Rest with tender roseate ray
On the font, enwreathed with lilies
For baptismal rites today.
Another pilgrim on the journey
From the cradle to the tomb,
Shall receive a name and blessing
While the Easter lilies bloom.
— Mrs. S.R. Allen[8]
Lilium longiflorum is known as the Easter lily because in Christianity, it is a symbol of the resurrection of Christ, which is celebrated during Eastertide. The "lily has always been highly regarded in the Church", as Jesus Himself referenced the flower, saying "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Luke 12:27).[3] Moreover, according to pious legend, "after Jesus' death and resurrection, some of these beautiful flowers were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray the night before His crucifixion. The popular Easter lily we use today to celebrate the holiday is referred to as ‘the white-robed apostles of hope.’
The bulb of these flowers buried in the ground represents the tomb of Jesus and the glorious white trumpet-like fragrant flowers which grow from the bulbs symbolize His life after death. The snowy white color stands for the purity of the Divine Savior and the joy of the resurrection while the trumpet shape signifies Gabriel's trumpet call to rebirth and new life.
The magnificent white lily known as the Easter Lily has long stood as a symbol of purity, hope, innocence and peace. Also called the Bermuda lily, the Trumpet lily, and Jacob’s Tears, the Easter lily is a biblical flower commonly associated with the resurrection of Christ.
It is thus absolutely appropriate that we on this day of rebirth celebrate a baptism.The new birth in Jesus name. We take on the responsibility of the soul baptized that they may know the peace and rebirth of the Lord and the keeping of God's promise.
Psalm 118 17
I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the Lord.
Isaiah 65
23
They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;[a]
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
and their descendants as well.
24
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
Baptism is the ritual use of water as an outward sign of inward purification in Christ (forgiveness of sins), of our adoption into God's family, of our ingrafting into Christ, and our admission into the Church. In the Presbyterian Church, a person may be baptized by sprinkling with water, by pouring water, or by immersion under water. In some other churches, only baptism by immersion is allowed. In accordance with our Lord's command in Matthew 28:19, baptism is always performed "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".
Luke 24:1-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Resurrection of Jesus
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body.[a] 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women[b] were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men[c] said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.[d] 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”
Lets us celebrate not the Death but the promise kept of eternal life.
In Jesus memory.
Noral R.