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‘Jesus died to fulfil his mission on earth’
Archbishop I.M. Akinadewo is the Founder, Primate and Spiritual Head of Motailatu Cherubim and Seraphim Church Worldwide. He speaks with ABAYOMI DARAMOLA on the significance of Easter.
What is the significance of the Easter celebration?
Before going straight to answering your question, I want to say clearly that in spite of all that Jesus did while here on earth in his crusade and gospel, he had no church. Painfully though, the people did not appreciate him. When he had a deep thought on the situation, he had to ask his disciples their assessment of his ministry. Diverse opinions amongst them called him names and associated him with many things. Then he spoke to Simon Peter by asking “what type of person do you think I am?” and Peter said “ you are the son of the living God called Christ Jesus”. When Jesus heard his reply, he said “ It is not the ingenuity in you that informed your opinion and I bless you for that and he said “ I say unto you that the power of the devil cannot take this from you and pointedly he declared, It is on this rock, that is, Peter that I shall build my church.
He had earlier told them that ‘the son of man will die and rise after three days’. This baffled them and they were working on the solution to the riddle. So, right from the time he climbed and ascended the mount of transfiguration, Peter was already in the spirit to know the meaning of that order that he would rise after three days. So, when they were at the mount of transfiguration and they saw three people, they did not know what was happening but Peter suspected something and that was why he said, while shivering, that “ It is good for us to be living here because we have seen Elijah, Moses and yourself and build three houses here, one for you, one for Moses and the other for Elijah.
Remembering what Jesus said earlier on that, that on his (Peter’s) head he would build his church, then Peter and the other disciples were looking forward that something was going to happen. So, when they saw the unfolding event, the word “resurrection” became clearer to them. That was why Peter was ready to fight when the Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus. Peter brought out his sword to cut the ears of one of them. So, the word Easter was manifested there and then resulting from the unfolding events.
Also, his trial, judgement and crucifixion were tantamount to resurrection because indeed, he rose from the dead after three days.
What is your advice to some people who feel that the Easter celebration is a time to visit places such as liquor joints where they drink themselves to stupor as against going to places of worship to mark the day?
Well, I want to answer this question first by saying Jesus did die in fulfilment of his mission on earth. So, if he had no mission, he could fight on. According to him, his father (God) could have sent legions to fight for him but the mission would not have been fulfilled because before accepting the mandate from heaven to come to this world to redeem us, he was told there would be bloodshed and he knew that. That was why he did not bother himself to fight back. That was a strong term to work on. However, for those who go to beer parlours during the Easter celebration, that is human because they know not what they were doing and that is expected anyway.
What is your advice to the Federal Government on how to address the present security challenges?
As a servant of God who have a firm believe in the power of God to change a situation, I believe that only God is able and able at all times. It is only left for us human beings to believe in the efficacy of the voice of prophesy that “ they would fight us, but they will not prevail. That is the word of God. The battle is won already, we only have to wait and see the fulfilment of God’s word.
