Significance Of Good Friday, Easter Sunday

Today is Good Friday, a day annually observed by Christians all over the world to commemorate the crucifixion more than 2000 years ago of Jesus Christ, the acclaimed sole inspiration of Christendom.

In furtherance of this, the Federal Government declared today and Monday, next week as public holidays.

Today, also marks the beginning of the three days leading to Easer, a very principal festival of the Christian Church  in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and which origins date back to the beginning of Christianity. It is even probably the oldest of its kind after Sunday which over the ages was regarded as the weekly celebration of the resurrection.

Easter, no doubt, is indeed central to the Christian year because, not only does the whole ecclesiastical calendar of moveable feasts depend upon its date, but the whole year of worship is also arranged around it.

For instance, in Liturgical tests, great emphasis is laid on the period as being the Christian Passover. Infact, since from the earliest time, Christians have kept Sunday as the weekly celebration of the resurrection of Christ.

However, a more potent significance of both Good Friday and Easter Sunday can be found in the rare circumstances of the dehumanisation of Jesus, The Christ, His phony trial and eventual sentencing and most importantly, His crucifixion for the remission of sins and the salvation of others.

These rare examples of human sacrifice for good of others epitomize true love representative of a Superior Being known to Christianity as God, to Islam as Allah.

In essence, though Easter may be an entirely Christian epoch, its lessons of endurance, long-suffering, supreme sacrifice and indeed forgiveness of sins, as evidenced in the verbal exchange between the Biblical penitent thief and the dying Christ on the Cross of Calvary, should be the universal theme for all religions.

While we agree that one religion is as good as another, it must be emphasised that the agape love which the example of the crucified Christ epitomizes effectively demonstrates the true nature of God, which, as the sages say, is a circle which centre is everywhere and the circumference, nowhere.

This is why The Tide insists that Easter should not be seen by Christianity and other religions alike as merely, another public holiday for merry making. It should, instead be a moment for sober reflection on the future of the state and nation.

Without doubt, Nigeria is passing through some of the most trying moments of her history, when a lot is required of all in areas of selfless sacrifice, patriotism, nationalism, meaningful leadership and purposeful followership.

As the country grapples with challenges of insecurity, religious intolerance, faith-based killings and political uncertainty, Nigerians must be willing to demonstrate true unity, love for peace and be tolerant of others’ views, no matter how unpalatable.

Far more importantly, Christians must be exemplary and use this moment to reflect even more deeply on the challenges we face as a people and prayerfully seek answers to the core issues that tend to divide us and emphasise, at all times, only those things that will unite us under one supreme being whose overriding quality is love. The Tide wishes all, happy Good Friday and joyous Easter celebration.