Today is being marked as Easter Sunday by Christians commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death.
Akwa Ibom Christians joined their counterparts all over the world to worship God Almighty in their different churches on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death on the cross of Calvary.
The Christians sang and danced and thanked God Almighty for the gift of Jesus Christ who died and resurrected from death for the redemption of mankind from sins.
Udeme Simon, the presiding Bishop of Great Faith Church, EMCO Lane, Uyo said “Easter is a season of reconciliation, a season of forgiveness, a season of the cross, a season of passion, a season of love.
“There would be no Chrsitianity without the suffering and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Anybody who was called or claimed to be Jesus had died and had not resurrected. It has not happened anywhere. The news that Jesus Christ rose has made Christians happy because they have hope of eternal life.”
According to him, “If you do not accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior, you cannot enjoy the privileges of a Christian and cannot make it to Heaven. His resurrection has brought boldness, life, assurance that Heaven is real. Unlike other forms of religion, Chrsitianaity is real. There are some religious names that came up but today they had gone and forgotten. Christianity over the years remains more constant and pronounced than any other form of religion in the world.”
In his Easter message entitled “The Risen Christ” on Sunday, the arch-Bishop said “The debt I owed but could not pay, Jesus had paid for me. He bore my shame and suferrings on the cross of Calvary. His resurrection has disallowed every sin I might have committed. I am a free person. Eventhogh I was a thief, His resurrection has forgiven me. Whoever had convicted me, His resurrection has brought frogiveness me.”
Pastor Sam Etok, remarked “We thank God because it is a season that reminds us of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our gospel message of our Lord Jesus Christ will make no meaning if He did not die and resurrect. Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a testimony that Christ remains the King on the earth and no power can stop Him. He rules in Heaven, earth and in the grave. So, this particular season- the death and the resurrection of Jesus- confirms to Christians that it is true Jesus is alive.”
Etok, who is the Regional Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, 12 Urua Udofia Street, Uyo, noted “The death of Jesus Christ helps in bringing sinners to Jesus Christ. The Bible says ‘For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.’
“His coming to earth does not discriminate anybody- whether you are a politician or non-Christians. Christ coming was for everyone.This, therefore, reminds those who are not in Christ Jesus to change their ways and return to him in humility. God is always willing to receive people who are ready to surrender their lives to Him because this was the reason Jesus Christ came and died for sinners.”
Earlier in his Easter message broadcast on radio and television, Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel had described “Easter is a season of sacrifice; of circumscribing one’s interest, desires and needs for causes that are greater than ours; it also symbolizes victory over the forces of hatred, betrayal, anger and vile temperaments. No one epitomises this selfless quality than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
“Our Saviour endured excruciating and harrowing pain; was put through the most dehumanizing treatment and torture ever meted out to man, was derided, taunted and abused. He had the power and the capacity to confound and defeat the evil plot of his traducers and tormentors, but because of the love He has for us, because of the need to fulfill the Scripture which is so eloquently expressed in John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ our Saviour elected to sacrifice His life so we may have ours. Three days after making the ultimate sacrifice, He rose gallantly and triumphantly, cleansing us of our sins. Today, we are considered worthy inheritors of His grace, love, sacrifice and blessings.”
The governor enjoined “Therefore, as we celebrate this great day of sacrifice and spiritual renewal, I want to enjoin you my dear brothers and sisters to follow the footsteps of our Lord and Saviour- Jesus Christ. I want you to make a solemn pledge that going forward, all ancient animosities, the anger and vile dispositions we may have exhibited against our brothers and sisters, all forces of disunity of division we may have entertained and helped push, all the ill-resort to malign, blackmail or the urge to pull your brother and sister down in order to advance your personal growth; the zero-sum tendencies, the galling feeling of betrayal and back-stabbing that have unfortunately defined our daily engagements with each other should give way to a season of love, of kindred spirit and a renewal of our soul and essence in line with what our Saviour did, at His death and Resurrection.
“We have just concluded an election cycle where the chords of our brotherhood and amity were severely tested. Even though some of our political gladiators had likened the contest to going to war and had unfortunately invoked certain metaphors of war and violence, the battle has been fought and won to the glory of the ONLY GOD we worship and serve.”
“The time, therefore, has come for us to close ranks and show love to one another. We went to the polls as sons and daughters of Akwa Abasi Ibom State joined together by shared hopes and aspirations for our State and our people. My opponent and I were both motivated by the need to serve our people and advance the cause of our development, but the people have spoken and made their choice. We must respect the will they expressed in my capacity to lead our people for the next four years.
“Let me again use this opportunity to thank you, our great and wonderful people for reposing your trust in my humble capacity to continue to lead and move this State to an enviable height of peace, security, development and growth. I am truly humbled by the faith you have shown in me, and I promise you again, that I will not sacrifice the trust; neither will I treat this confidence with levity. I will continue to pursue the development of this State with renewed vigour, passion and faith in our common good and common essence.”
