Rev. Opoko On Easter Message Task Citizens, Leaders On Role In Nation Building, Others, Warns Against Overheating The Polity

Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Rev’d Dr. Chibuzo Raphael Opoko (DOB, TFSG, JP) has hinted on the need for citizens and leaders to participate honestly in nation building as Nigeria battles to stabilize the political temperature of the state.

Rev. Okoko in his Easter message in Umuahia, Abia State, described Nigeria as “a precaution one, fast descending down the precipice”. He also added that the politics of calumny, the employment of slander and character assassination, profiling of those who question injustice and the attempt to label them and stigmatise them as evil and dangerous.

He also added that “overheating the polity is a dangerous trend that has the capability and potency of destroying our Nation. Our politicians must become responsible. Games cannot be played with the lives of millions of Nigerians.

“People have become wiser. People know the Truth. Don’t treat Nigerians as fools. Because, God can use the foolish things to confound the wise, and the weak things to confound the strong.” Rev. Opoko added.

Rev. Opoko reminded Christan faithful and Nigerians that “Easter presents to us the greatest sacrifice in human history”.

“Hence, Easter brings us to a very crucial point where our faith must move beyond what we have heard to what we have experienced – A personal salvation encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. The faith that was handed over to us is an experiential faith. I pray that God will in this season of Easter orchestrate events that will deepen our faith and trust in him in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen”. Rev. Opoko added.

Read full details of the Easter message below 👇

SPECIAL EASTER MESSAGE FROM HIS GRACE, THE MOST REV’D DR. CHIBUZO RAPHAEL OPOKO (DOB, TFSG.JP). METHODIST ARCHBISHOP OF UMUAHIA.

Introduction

It is with joy and a great sense of duty and responsibility that I bring you this special Easter message to share my thoughts as inspired by God even as we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Christians all over the world should place high premium on our celebration of this event that places the Christianity above every other religion of the world, because there is not leader or founder of any religion that ever rose from the dead.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ remains the foundation of our faith. Paul writing to the Corinthians noted “…. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is our faith (1 Cor. 15:14)” Easter like we know is the culmination of the passion of Jesus Christ, preceded by Lent (a forty day period of fasting and prayers) which is climaxed in the Holy week where special events like the Palm Sunday, Spy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are celebrated. Beyond all these, Easter Sunday reminds us as Christians of the power of Christ Jesus over the grave, over the powers of this world and even death.

Indeed, death could not hold him captive. In this Easter message, we shall have a brief reflection on “the
empty tomb” narrative in John 20:1-18 and draw lessons for our Nation, State and the Church.

Reflection from John 20:1-18:

18. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.

A very significant character in this narrative that started from verse one (1) is Mary Magdalene who noticed the empty tomb, called on Peter and John, kept crying after the disciples had left and finally saw Jesus. Who is this Mary Magdalene? From Luke 8:2 and Mark 16:9 we noticed that she was a disciple from whom Jesus casted out seven demons. She was the first person to see Jesus Christ alive. Let us draw quick lessons from the narrative:

Mary Magdalene went very early to the tomb and discovered that the stone had been rolled away. The rolling of the heavy stone was the first impossible thing that Mary saw. The stone was used to seal up the grave but the power of Christ’s resurrection rolled it away effortlessly. Therefore, Easter reminds us of God’s ability to roll away every stone that hinders our progress; causing us to trust in the power of God. All the stones hindering and preventing the growth and development of our Nation will be rolled by the power of Resurrection.

Peter and John ran to confirm the empty tomb. They confirmed that truly Jesus had risen from the dead (John 20:8). Therefore, Easter gives credence to the authenticity of our faith. It affirms and confirms that our God is indeed a living and true God. Jeremiah affirms to this thus “But the Lord is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King! Jer. 10:10”.

In Verse 11, after Peter and John had left, Mary stood outside facing the tomb asking this God who cannot lie for an evidence. She needed to be double sure so that she will be able to say like John “…what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, that we preach”, (1 John 1:1). From her words, she finally said “I have seen the Lord (John 20:18)”.

Hence, Easter brings us to a very crucial point where our faith must move beyond what we have heard to what we have experienced – A personal salvation encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. The faith that was handed over to us is an experiential faith. I pray that God will in this season of Easter orchestrate events that will deepen our faith and trust in him in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Finally, if Jesus could make a lady who was possessed with seven demons the first evangelist of his resurrection, then God can make out of us whatever He wills. Nothing is impossible with God. He uses the weak things of this world to shame the wise. (1 Cor. 1:27)

Lessons for the Nation and the Church:

The present state of our nation can best be described as a precarious one. We are fast descending down the precipice. The politics of calumny, the employment of slander and character assassination, the profiling of those who question injustice and the attempt to label them and stigmatise them as evil and dangerous, overheating the polity is a dangerous trend that has the capability and potency of destroying our Nation. Our politicians must become responsible. Games cannot be played with the lives of millions of Nigerians. People have become wiser. People know the Truth. The evil men and women in our space are known with their collaborators in various spaces in our Nation. Don’t treat Nigerians as fools. Because, God can use the foolish things to confound the wise, and the weak things to confound the strong. (1 Cor. 1:27). The prophecies of a new and living Nigeria seem to have been delayed for donkey years.

Yes, Nigeria seems to be dead but with the power of resurrection, we are assured of a better Nigeria. We
are optimistic that Nigeria will rise again.

I enjoin all Christians, to persist in prayers like Mary did, until we see a new Nigeria. Despite what we observed in the just concluded elections, we must not give up. Despite the dwindling economic situation we find ourselves and with the scarcity of the naira notes, we must remain strong and keep praying for God to turn and overturn the events for our good.

On the other hand, the Church is in serious contention with other faiths. Here in Nigeria, Christianity is consistently and constantly under severe attacks. We must as a Church, take advantage of the victorious position which Easter affords us and trust God to see Christianity rise above all odds and confrontations. We must begin to announce our faith like Mary did with confidence and never be intimidated by what we see. In so doing, we will be contending for the faith which was handed over to us.

I must say with every sense of responsibility that Christians should stop taking advantage of Easter to hike the prices of goods in the market. The church must arise to contend for the faith; a faith devoid of greed, covetousness, wickedness and self centeredness. Easter affords us the opportunity to exemplify the love of Christ in practical terms.

Conclusion:

Beloved, as we conclude this year’s Easter message, let me remind us that Easter presents to us the greatest sacrifice in human history. “Greater love has no one than this that one should lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13)”. Permit me to ask you the following questions as we conclude: In what way can you show love to those living around you? Can you become a source of blessing to widows and indigent people around your community? Can you sponsor the work of God sacrificially this season? Beloved, your Easter celebration will never be complete until you show love to those around you. Together with our love and prayers, we can make the world a better place.

My Episcopal blessings!

The Most Rev’d Dr. Chibuzo Raphael Opoko (DOB, TFSG, JP). Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia.