Easter 2008 Message from the Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos (Anglican Communion) The Most Rev. Dr. E. Adebola Ademowo Ademowo, OON

Brethren, we give Glory and Honour to our Lord because Easter is true and Jesus lives. Today, at another Easter, we declare this Gospel of hope and Salvation. Believe it! Easter is true; Christ arose and has become the fruit of eternal life and we are WINNERS.

Mary and Martha got it from the horses mouth when they heard Jesus say “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11: 25). What a privilege! Resurrection here is not re-incarnation or resurfacing, it means to rise from death and bring back to life. Life means state of being alive; conscious existence, continued existence, union of soul and body, a continued opportunity of remaining in the game or race, a living being. With the meanings of the two words, one can easily say that to become a living Being one must resurrect. Jesus has power over life and death as well as power to forgive sins. This is because he is the Creator of life (see John 14: 6). He who is Life can surely restore life. What wonderful assurance and certainty we have. “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). Nigeria shall not collapse; her resurrection is certain - Spiritual and Bodily resurrection. Resurrection of life that is dead in sin (Isaiah 1:18)

Jesus has made us Nigerians victors, overcomers and winners, through the message of Easter. Jesus won for us because he prepared and planned for it. Winning is not an accident, we must emulate Christ. Here are some simple steps to becoming a winner:

W - Work hard, (John 9:4). Hard work is the heart throb of every winner.
I - Invest wisely, (Matt 6:20). Resources, Time, Talents should be invested carefully, wisely and prayerfully.
N - Never doubt, (Phil 4:13) Trust in God to help you win in life! Except you want to live like Peter!
N - Never quit, (II Tim 4:7). Winners never quit and quitters never win.
E - Expect victory, (I John 5:4) whatever is born of God overcomes the World.
R - Receive blessings, (Rev 2:10). Earthly and Heavenly rewards are for winners.

Despite the calamities and human tragedies, with the Easter message we have hope of a better future.

Brethren, we cry of panacea in all sectors of economy, we may talk of the percolative scourge of hunger, of incurable diseases, of terrorism and kidnapping of people as in the Niger-Delta, rape which is sickening and has become pervasive, of the crying of innocent souls through the excruciating agony/pain from accident, of unpleasant experiences which students and parents go through, we may even talk of the decadent effect of corruption in our society at all levels, robbery in the banking sectors and on our highways, we cry of political fraud in our transitional programme. The list is almost endless.

However, through the wounds of the Risen Lord, I can see the evils which afflict humanity with the eyes of hope.

Beloved Nigerians, Christ is risen and He is alive among us. It is He who is the hope of a Better, Brighter and Rewarding Future for us.

Easter has always brought hope. Even more so, it signifies the power of transformation. It is a time to do an exfoliate analysis of the sacrifice that was made on behalf of our entire nation and indeed the whole world and what its reflection really is on our lives. We should let that singular act of selflessness propel our hearts and strengthen us to move our nation forward.

All shackles of the past and the old can become new if only we believe. It is time for rebirth. It is time to let the virile winds of re-animation and renewal blow through Nigeria and the World.

I enjoin Iraqis of all religious and ethnic groups to unite and reject violence. Enough is enough. Slaughtering of souls must stop. The larcenous mode of operation that smacks of chicanery must be swept away.

Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and offer of salvation should morally uplift us and encourage us to eschew the selfishness of carnal nature and sublime a deep spiritual understanding of the sacrifice. We too must be charged to move ahead. Our adrenaline must pump towards progression. We must be spiritual pugilist for Christ.

As we celebrate the Easter, let us for the sake of God Almighty and our fatherland accede to the principles, for which Christ died, rose and ascended. We must immerse ourselves into positive tendencies and idiosyncrasies that would also have impact on others. While we profess a drive into an egalitarian state full of opportunity and peace, we must remember that it is the most imperative that we remain resolute in our prayers for genuine love and unity.

Remember faith without work is useless. We are WINNERS but we must work for it.

I wish all Nigerians a Happy and Peaceful Easter Celebrations.

The Most Revd Dr Adebola Ademowo, OON
The Archbishop of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos