The Easter is a second chance for all humans to reflect on their past lives and focus on a new day, both as individuals and as a people.
Senator Kola Balogun, representing Oyo South Senatorial District, stated this in a message felicitating Christian faithful on Easter celebration.
The Easter is the celebration of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ who lived a remarkably short life of pure love, denial, truth, purity, justice and peace.
Senator Balogun urged Christians especially to reflect deeply on their past and emulate Jesus Christ by living a life of selfless service for humanity.
He stated that, though it is time for celebration after 40 days of fasting, Nigerians as a people, should learn from the lessons inherent in Easter.
He said Easter challenges Christians and non-Christians alike to embrace the higher values exemplified in Jesus as a means to individual fulfillment and lasting peace for the society.
“Easter is the celebration of the death, through crucification, and eventual resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the reason for the season.
“It is beyond the merriments. Easter is an opportunity for us reflect on and emulate the life of the person in whose memory we are celebrating today.
“We should all know that Easter offers us a second chance to reflect on our personal and collective lives, both as followers and as leaders.
“Through the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, we, as humans, have been granted a second chance.
“We have been offered another chance to reflect on the short but remarkable life of commitment to love, truth, justice, humility, mercy, compassion, purity, peace and compassion exemplified by Jesus Christ.
“We have been given another chance to leave our old lives behind and focus on the new day, with all its potential for joy and choices that honour God.
“The life and teaching, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are a lesson on the essence of humility, service, self-sacrifice and true love.
“While He was here with us on earth, Jesus Christ preached and lived out the truth. He condemned injustices and emphasised the purity of the spirit, rather than the law.
“Jesus Christ stood against bad leadership and those who benefitted from the societal ills and rots prevalent in his own time.
“He had the opportunity to live by denying his divine messianic mission, but He choose to sacrifice His life in order for us to live.
“Demonstrating an unquantifiable and selfless love for the human race, He laid down his life and died a dehumanising, agonising death on the cross,” he stated.
Senator Balogun, however, said it was not all gloomy as Jesus Christ, by His resurrection on the third day, gave mankind a second chance to experience eternity.
“His resurrection is a testimony to the ultimate victory of good over evil, of light over darkness, and hope for conquest of wickedness and aggression.
“The Easter is, therefore, another chance to rekindle hope in suffering people everywhere in the world that evil will not continue to prevail.
“It is another season for us to know that truth cannot be silenced for ever and that ultimate victory belongs to the good, the just and the bearer of truth.
“Nigerians, and indeed, people the world over, can learn a whole lot from the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ and its outcome.
“It is on this note that my wife, Mrs Gbonjubola Kola-Balogun, and I join the rest of the world to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter,” Senator Balogun added.
He enjoined Nigerians, irrespective of creed or position, to emulate Jesus Christ who had the chance to be rich but opted to be in solidarity with the poor, the sick, the lowly-placed and the marginalised people.
He also urged incumbent leaders in all strata to jettison selfishness, greed and inordinate ambition and imbibe the inherent lessons in Easter.
