My dear people of God, happy Easter to all of you. Today we commemorate the risen Christ, today our champion conquered death, crucified all our sins on the cross of Calvary, defeat the devil, and rose from the dead victorious. Hallelujah!
Throughout the Holy Week, we saw our captain marched into Jerusalem, and humiliated. He was exchanged, the righteous with a robber, and crucified among criminals. His righteousness even in His agony and in His ignominious death offers all humans eternal life. The Prince of Peace today came out of the grave a conqueror, a Savior, and our eternal Redeemer.
Mark 16:6; “But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.” The angel told the women that Jesus Christ is risen, and there was evidence of the Empty Tomb. “He is not here,” “See the place where they laid Him.”
The resurrection of Jesus Christ has vital important points:
Our Lord Jesus Christ keeps his promise, He told His disciples that on the third day He will rise again, and He did. It ensures that the risen Christ is the ruler of God’s eternal Kingdom, that it is not an idea, hope or dream, it is real. His resurrection gives us assurance that we too will be resurrected. That the power of God that brought Christ’s body back from the dead is available to us to bring our morally and spiritually dead selves back to life, so that we can change and grow.
“Alleluia! Alleluia!! Darkness is conquered, death undone, Life triumphant! Alleluia. So, from age to age, each nation grows; more like the heart of Him who rose. Alleluia! Alleluia!!” (Church of Nig. Hymnal). Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we joined Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days and nights, as we journeyed with Him to the Cross of Calvary, let us rise with Him into righteousness this Easter day.
Happy Easter.
Your Bishop and friend
Rt. Rev. Dr. Martyn Chukwuma Anagbogu