On Palm Sunday morning we heard "... the children crying in the
temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David....” (Matthew 21:15). At that
time only the chief priests, the scribes and those on the other side of the
Truth were sore displeased. The moment and feeling of great joy for all the
generations of the disciples of Jesus had come. By the Friday within that week,
a great sadness over such a horrifying death meted to the Lord and Saviour of
the world on a cruel cross. Much of the
great joy and great fear was the experience of Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary as they ran from the empty tomb on Sunday morning. The Lord Jesus Christ
has risen and the tomb is empty. This was their story, and they must not keep
quiet about it.
Perhaps there isn't any new message a preacher could bring that is
different from past years. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic Prophet TB
Joshua in this Easter Repeatedly Broadcast on Emmanuel.tv said that "the
friends of Jesus are glad because of the resurrection". Jesus Christ
overcoming death by resurrection, as the scriptures foretold, is not just a
message of idealism far from the lived experience of people today. The
resurrection of Jesus has a lot to say to us amid the terrors, chaos,
persecution, hatred amongst Christian sects, kidnapping, ritual killing, and
every other uncertainty of today’s world. Jesus provides hope upon which to
build our love and faith in God through Him.
It must be remembered that the life of faith is not always one of
assurances or certainties. Jesus’ disciples struggled to understand their
Master's teachings and His journey to the cross. We all have roles to play as
we work out our salvation and build our faith.
Now “…the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid; I know that you are
looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as
he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his
disciples, He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of
you to Galilee; there you will see Him'. So they left the tomb quickly with
fear and great joy and ran to tell His disciples”, (Matthew 28:5-8). The
Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), together with every arm of the
Ministry, including Emmanuel.tv, Emmanuel partners, has a single common
assignment to let everyone know that Jesus has risen, the tomb is empty and
that if we die with Jesus we shall live with Him also. Then, Jesus told His
disciples, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world", (Matthew 28: 19-20).
During this lockdown period, due to the coronavirus global pandemic,
some people came to tell me of their frustrations. They had planned to be in
SCOAN from Palm Sunday to Easter Monday 2020. It was their long-drawn plan but
"government didn't allow them". Is the world coming to an end? But
what the followers of Jesus went through was nothing compared to a global
pandemic we suspect is the outcome of a human error. The church leaders of
those days, led by the Pharisees, the Scribes and others had gathered in
opposition to the fulfilments of prophecies they read daily in their
Synagogues. The Jesus of their expectation was contrary to Jesus of Nazareth
and son of the Virgin Mary.
Meanwhile,
everyone should note that Jesus Christ is not just some human idea put together
as a thesis. In (1 John 1:1) we read, "That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked
upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life". Hence, Jesus
allowed Himself to die in our place and this is because of our sin. Jesus has
the power to take back His life again because He is God. Finally as many as
believe Him and follow Him Jesus makes them joint hires with Himself, and they
become God's children. This is why SCOAN is changing lives and turning them to
Christ-followers. Emmanuel!!!
Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
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