Lessons of Easter
Yesterday, April 20, 2025, Christians in Nigeria and across the world celebrated Easter, marking the end of 40-day period of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday. Observed with morning masses, other church services and exchange of visits, Christians commemorated the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion on the cross of Calvary on Good Friday. […]
Yesterday, April 20, 2025, Christians in Nigeria and across the world celebrated Easter, marking the end of 40-day period of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday. Observed with morning masses, other church services and exchange of visits, Christians commemorated the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion on the cross of Calvary on Good Friday.
Both events of crucifixion and resurrection remain the cornerstone of Christianity as they brought atonement for the sin of humanity and showcased the depth of God’s commitment to redeem mankind from quagmire of sinfulness. More importantly, Easter also signifies the triumph of mankind, which brought hope of victory and eternal life in Christ.
It is instructive that this season began with Ash Wednesday in which the ashes on Christians’ foreheads reminded them of their mortality and the need to live right at all times. With that, they went into the Lenten period marked by fasting, abstinence, praying, almsgiving and forgiveness of sins. The season brought the faithful closer to God as they live in the encouragement and yearning for the humility in the submission of Jesus and the significance of the ash preparing them for the more glorious and dignified life the essence of resurrection offers.
We at Daily Trust congratulate all Christians for the successful completion of the Lenten season and the celebration of Easter. We pray that God answered the desires of their hearts while in supplication and believe that through His grace, they reap the benefits that come with the season.
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We call on Nigerians to use this solemn season for soul searching, especially as the nation has witnessed persistent and tragic wave of insecurity with loss of lives and property including the severe economic challenges facing the citizens.
We also remind Nigerians of the need to imbibe the lessons of the season, which demands we live transparent lives, especially for those in leadership positions, realising that Jesus Christ explained in Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as ransom for many.”
This sacrificial season reminds all Nigerians on the need to live for the general good, and avoid the display of avarice. Therefore, we implore our leaders to emulate Jesus Christ who even paid the supreme price of death on the cross for his followers to be saved. They should also humble themselves as servants of the people and know that God put them in positions of authority for them to serve his people, and not just to be served.
This sacrificial living calls for selflessness and consideration for one another, always seeking the common good. This is part of the injunction required of all as 1 Peter 2:21 said: “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”
This is time for all people of goodwill to show acts of forgiveness, living in peace and communality as was displayed when people of other faiths joined their Christian friends to celebrate the Easter. The attributes of peaceful coexistence should be part of daily lives in order to reduce the violence festering around our communities, calling for a new spirit of reconciliation, with God, among Nigerians.
Towards this, we at Daily Trust also implore all Christians to showcase the personal and spiritual renewal, which resurrection symbolises, and live a life of compassion as exemplified in the transformational life of Jesus.
This season calls for inter-religious cooperation, being each other’s keeper. And to drive this home, our religious leaders should preach the virtues of fear of God, which seem to be in abeyance in the areas bedeviled with kidnappings, killings and destruction. The creeping absence of God-fearing men and women should be arrested and brought back in our daily lives.
Therefore, the key lessons of Easter and the possibility of a new beginning, the promise of a better tomorrow in the resurrection of Jesus remains a powerful symbol for overcoming adversity, demonstrating the power of hope even in the darkest of times.
The season’s teachings should ensure we all leave our past anger, bitterness behind and embrace the hope of a future filled with joy and peace, transformed and renewed through faith in God’s grace. These virtues inherent in Easter must not be lost on all Christians even as the celebrations come to an end.
Happy Easter.