THE GOOD FRIDAY MESSAGE FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE OF LAGOS AND BISHOP OF LAGOS (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) THE MOST REV. DR. EPHRAIM ADEBOLA ADEMOWO, OON

Today is Good Friday, a day set aside to commemorate the crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is Good Friday because despite the sorrow associated with that day it brought joy beyond human understanding and salvation to mankind.

The episode of the Good Friday commenced with His Triumphant entry into Jerusalem with challenges from the very knowledgeable people, the Pharisees, the businessmen who were transacting their businesses in the temple and the spiritual men who sought to kill him, because He exposed their lies and exploitation for what it is.

These challenges eventually led to His death which He encountered joyfully.

In Isaiah, this death had been foretold to fulfill what was prophesied about Him.

“He was oppressed and afflicted yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away” Isaiah 53:7-8a.

This death was on the Cross. This was to demonstrate His humility. Significantly however, the cross will reconcile the Jews and the Gentiles and all mankind to God.

The synoptic Gospels pointed to the pains of His suffering and how He went out to others in sympathy; forgetting self and still at the very point of His death cried out to God “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing”.

This should indeed be a lesson to all of us and all aggrieved politicians.

We know that through the legal process, some politicians have been reinstated and some asked to step down. Through the judiciary again some political anomalies have been corrected.

The political class should allow peace, love and concord to reign in our country. Let them adopt systems of resolving issues rather than using methods that will fault and threaten our democratic era.

If by court rulings, a political office holder is asked to step down let him do so without rancour and let the reinstated not act otherwise but to forgive. I want to appeal to the judiciary to go out in the midst of suffering, to promote justice and fair play.

My dear people of God, the sycophancy of followers in our country points to the degree of how our leaders have been misled.

The same people who are shouting hosanna will still be the same people that will shout crucify him. Those in authority should endeavour to do away with sycophants if they want to succeed.

Children of God, I am fore-seeing an unprecedented emergence of God’s plan for our country Nigeria. Christ submitted Himself to the Roman government; they discredited Him and brought Him under the ancient curse of those who were hung upon a tree. “Christ”, the Bible says, “redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us”.

I want to appeal to all Nigerians that in all things we should be discipline and think positively in order to move our country forward.

I wish you all a Happy Good Friday.

The Most Rev. Dr E. Adebola Ademowo, OON
The Archbishop of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos