ADEZE OJUKWU

New Jersey, USA

Good Friday, April 9, 2004

The Easter celebration comes with a lot of questions such as the authenticity of Christ's sacrificial death for humanity's salvation, his resurrection, ascension and return. These issues were the focus of a discourse with Mr. ERIC AGUNANNE, a Nigerian-trained mathematician and a bible scholar. Prior to his departure for California, USA, Evangelist Agunanne was a much-sought seminar speaker in the Lagos Diocese of the Anglican Communion. He spoke to ADEZE OJUKWU from California. Here are excerpts:

Evangelist Eric Agunanne

ucherics@yahoo.com

Q: Why is Easter so significant?

A: Easter is the foundation of the Christian faith. Without the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our faith is vain and we are still in our sins. St Paul noted this in his letter to the Corinthians when he said that without the resurrection of Christ we Christians are of all men most miserable. 1 Corinthians 15:12 "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

Q: How best can one convey the definition or perhaps the message of Easter to those outside the Christian fold?

A: Let me start by re-echoing the dictionary definition of Easter. For instance, the Webster Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary defines Easter as follows:

1. Christian festival in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and observed o the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox as calculated according to tables based in Western Churches on the Georgian calendar and in orthodox Churches on the Julian calendar.
2. Also called Easter Sunday, the day on which this festival is celebrated.
3. The Easter season, the week following Easter.’

Jesus died for all men. He did not die for Christians alone, because all men were born in sin. He died and rose in order to give us the passport to heaven, which was lost when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden. He came to bring us back into fellowship with God and also make us acceptable to him. All these were lost after Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden. Faith in Christ brings us into a covenant relationship with God. It takes faith to accept this truth. More so the empty tomb of Jesus underscores his resurrection. Indeed the empty tomb of Jesus bears credence to the Christian faith. This clearly stands Jesus out from other religious leaders. This is a historical truth and a divine order.

Q: Why do some Christian groups frown at Easter celebrations?

A: There have always been arguments against Easter as a Christian festival, and such arguments still persist. Some believe that Easter was a heathen celebration, which Christians have tried to obliterate with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter was mentioned in the Bible (Acts 12:1-4) with reference to the persecution of the Church by King Herod. Peter was arrested during the seven days of the feast of the leaven bread. The old King James Version linked the feast of the unleavened bread to Easter while the New King James Version called it Passover. However, whether it is called Easter or Passover, every Christian should bear in mind that we are remembering the death and resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our focus now and always is a reflection on Christ’s coming to earth as a man. That is the question: Why did God come in the form of man (Jesus Christ) to die for our sins?

Q: Please kindly elaborate on this.

A: The foundation for Easter began in the Garden of Eden when God killed an animal and used the skin to make a covering for Adam and Eve for their sin and nakedness. The picture of Christ as the Passover Lamb became more vivid when God delivered Israel from the hands of the Egyptians (Exodus 12 and Numbers 9), which is tantamount to the deliverance of believers from the world. Though God made a difference between the Jews in the land of Goshen and the rest of the Egyptians during the ten plagues, it cost the death and blood of lambs without blemish to protect the Jews from the angel of death. Similarly, the Blood of Jesus Christ makes the difference between eternal life and eternal damnation. Jesus fulfilled all the requirements God gave for the observance of the Passover including the bone not being broken. (John 19:31-37). On the Easter morning, when Jesus met with Mary, he could not allow her to touch him because he had not gone to the Father. (Leviticus 16).

Q: Today, materialism seems to color the spiritual essence of Easter. Do you subscribe to this view?

A: I personally believe that the spiritual essence of Easter can never be eroded irrespective of attacks against the Christian faith. The journey to Easter often starts several weeks before the actual celebration. In the Christian calendar, events leading up to Easter begins with the Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the forty days, and forty nights of Jesus fasting began. Many Christians often participate actively in this as a way of reflecting on their discipleship. For some it is an opportunity to partake in the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. It is not meant to be a ritual, but a time for stocktaking and examining whether one is still in the faith as he should be.

Q: Can one safely assume that Easter is the most significant Christian festival?

A: Yes. I believe that Easter is the most important Christian festival. Without Easter, Christmas has no fulfillment. Easter is the precursor of the Holy Communion or Holy Eucharist. This is a covenant where Jesus himself said, "He that does not eat my flesh and drink my blood has no part in me." Easter opened the way for the Gentiles to be brought into God’s larger family. Easter grafted the wild vine into the true vine.

It was John The Baptist who saw Jesus and reflected back on the Paschal lamb and the divine plan for man’s salvation. ‘Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. He saw Jesus as a suffering Messiah, as that lamb that will be killed so that his blood would save man from the calamity of God’s judgment. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.

Q: What is your Easter message for this year?

A: Easter is a time of deep contrition, sobriety and re-examination. The suffering of Jesus Christ Our Savior fills the air around everyone who appreciates the sacrifice of Jesus. Easter is unlike Christmas where the gift by The Wise Men prompts people to exchange gifts. Christ is the divine gift to man. Easter reminds us of death and suffering. Generally people mourn at the death of a loved one. There is not much celebration in death. But Christians celebrate while in sorrow. The Easter jubilation is due to the interface of Christ’s resurrection and redemption for those who believe. The blood of Jesus is still efficacious in fulfilling all the requirements of God for the remission of sin. All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God; but for the death and resurrection of Jesus, the believer has his sins taken away and the righteousness of God imputed on him. Because of Easter man can appear before God as if he never sinned. Henceforth, anyone who goes to hell will not be because of his sin, but because he rejected the provision which God made in Jesus Christ.

Q How is the Easter festival in America?

A: Many Churches have outlined programs to mark this year’s Easter otherwise called Resurrection Sunday. Easter celebration in America is not as pronounced or loud as in Nigeria. In Nigeria, most churches worship on Wednesdays of the Lenten period. There are outdoor explicit programmers for the Easter weekend, like crusades, seminars, conventions, retreats, healing and deliverance outreaches. Christians founded America, but today, it seems as if, Christians have been gagged from freely witnessing about their faith. The separation of Church and State puts a limit to what can be done in public places. But on the other hand, America is blessed with thousands of Christian radio and television stations through which one can nourish his soul. The spirit of Easter is felt more through these media than in the outside world. Church activities and celebrations are confined within their four walls but with the large television and radio channels, the message spreads widely.

Q: What do you think about Mel Gibson’s film, entitled, Passion Of The Christ, which was released on Ash Wednesday?

A: The film has been making waves through out the country. It depicts the last twelve of hours of Jesus life on earth. The film is riveting becomes it is very close to what Jesus went through. Many have turned a new leaf towards Christianity after watching the film. Though America claims to be God’s own country, it is believed that only about 20 percent believe in the God of the Bible. Easter is a celebration which history respects. Jesus is the only religious founder whose grave is empty. History confirms that a man called Jesus lived, he influenced lives, spoke wisdom that were never heard, healed the sick and raised the dead. He was crucified by the connivance of Jewish religious elite of his time and after three days, some of his followers saw him alive and his tomb was empty unto this day. His resurrection gives hope to all his followers that on the last day, he will raise all those who trust in him, with a new life, new body and into his Father’s kingdom. It is necessary for everyone to understand the story of Easter and live by it.

Q: Evangelist, thanks for this inspirational exposition and a wonderful Easter message.

A: Thanks for this opportunity and God bless you.