By Eberechi Obinagwam
Two thousand years ago, God out of his love to mankind sent his only begotten son, Christ, to die for us.
What great love he showed to the world, that while we were yet sinners, he died for us.
He first loved us before we loved him.
He lived for 33 years within which he dedicated three years to works of his father.
His three years of operation on earth was of great impact and significant to human race that the world will not forget.
It is the significance of his death that Christians all over the world celebrate the season of Easter.
The significance of his resurrection from dead is that it brought ‘Salvation’ to mankind.
His death destroyed the powers of death and gave us eternal life and glory.
His death transited us from the kingdom of darkness to the abode of light – Colossians 1:13.
His death redeemed us from curses to Abrahamic blessing. (Galatians 3:13)
His death gave us redemptive rights. It gave us inheritance in Christ.
He enriched us with Riches, Wisdom, Strength, Honour, Glory and Blessing. (Revelation 5:12.)
At his crucifixion he said, “it is finished.” Finished from all hardship, sickness and diseases, powers that held us down.
His resurrection from the dead is what Christians all over the world celebrate as Easter.
The date of Easter is decided by a complex set of calculations based on observations of the moon.
In early Christianity, different churches used different methods, leading to disagreements which remain unresolved centuries later.
Eastern and Western churches continue to celebrate Easter according to different calenders, although sometimes by chance the festivals coincide.
This year’s Easter falls on the 12th of April.
But the significant thing about this year’s Easter is the ordeal of Coronavirus.
Like a dream of the night, the deadly virus has destabilised the usual gathering of love, lent, prayers, and celebrations among Christians.
In Easter, like Christmas, people gather to celebrate the resurrected Christ on Sunday morning – that is after they had gathered in their various places of worship to mourn his death on Friday, which is called the Good Friday.
This year, Christians are enjoined to view, and celebrate at home, not even a gathering because the situation does not allow.
The virus came in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has so far spread to all nations of the earth, with 1.6 million cases according to data from John Hopkins University.
It has humbled nations both the First World, developed and developing nations. It has made the world to recognising that God is the only Supreme being, that the world was framed by Him, not by scientists.
Prior to the circumstances, some preachers, seeyers, prophets had said it was a punishment from God, God is angry. He wants to destroy the world. He wants to kill all the unrighteous ones. It is a mark of 666 and so many.
But will God do wickedly? Does his anger last for a long time? Is his mercy not enduring forever?
Is it not the scripture that says he will no longer curse the ground anymore for man’s sake be broken? Gen 8:21.
Or will his words return void that said he wants all men saved?
If he destroys the unrighteous like many claimed he said, who then did he ask us to preach to, the Righteous?
Did he not say he came for them (unrighteous) not for the righteous?
Is the world really coming to an end this year when he said all these signs do not mean that my coming is near or at the door step?
According to the President of Living Faith Church, Winners Chapel, David Oyedepo, “Yes we did something but whatever it is we did will not make God not have mercy and forgive us and clean our land.
“It won’t make him be angry for too long and not show mercy to human race even as the world is pleading for mercy.
“No, he is a merciful God. He told the angel that was destroying the people of Jerusalem, of the sin David committed. It is enough: stay now thine hand in 2Samuel 24: 16 as David pleaded for mercy.
“Will he not hear the cry of the poor that are dying of hunger as a result of this and have mercy?
“He will not destroy the land because he told Abraham that if he found ten righteous men, he will spare the land.
“Today, we have more than ten righteous men in the world so he will not destroy the land for the sake of the righteous.
“He gave the land to the children of men not to virus. He has heard us. All we need to do is to get rid of fear and put our prayers to action. The plague is gone. ” he said
However, president, Great Light One Family Ministry, Oladele Samuel, said: “It is unfortunate churches will not be able to to do in-person Easter Service where members will attend churches to pray, dance and rejoice in the resurrection of Christ as the whole world is battling with the deadly disease called covid 19.
“Many people are staying at home to help everyone stay safe and to observe the instruction by the government.
“This is not an excuse to ignore the celebration. There will be livestream services on Friday and Sunday to the congregation as worship should not be suspended.
“Jesus can appear in various homes as He did in the midst of disciples when the doors were shut for fear of the Jews in John 20:26.
“We are going to seize the opportunity to talk about the freedom the death of Jesus has brought to us and also pray for God’s will to be done on earth.
“This should also be a time of reflection and opportunity to serve Him in a simple way and ask God to forgive us,” he said.
