Bishop Odedeji identifies victory, others as benefits of Easter

ONE major benefit of Easter is that beyond establishing the triumph of Jesus Christ over death, it also guarantees victory over death for Christians.

Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West ( Anglican Communion), The Rt. Rev. ( Dr) James Olusola Odedeji, stated this, yesterday, in a sermon on Easter Day with the theme, “Implications of Christ’s Resurrection,” at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos.

Odedeji, who referred to a statement by Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John, Chapter 11, Verse 25, said that resurrection from the death of Jesus Christ guaranteed resurrection from death by followers of Christ.

The bishop, who also stated that Jesus Christ’s resurrection brought redemption and salvation to mankind, said that His followers would have been most “miserable and hopeless” if He had not risen from the dead.

He identified the laying of the foundation of the

Christian faith as yet another benefit of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, saying that the resurrection laid a strong foundation for the spread of the good news, which the church is all about.

“Christ's resurrection implies the fulfilment of the Old Testament,” he added.

According to him, most of the Old Testament represented prophecies towards the coming of Jesus, his death and resurrection for the redemption of mankind.

All those prophecies, according to him, would have amounted to naught if Jesus Christ had not been resurrected.

He said the resurrection of Christ was divinely orchestrated to remove any iota of doubt about the resurrection.

He cited the empty tomb and many post- resurrection appearances of Jesus as incontrovertible evidence of the resurrection.

The bishop, therefore, admonished Christians not just to celebrate Easter, but to ensure they appropriate the benefits of Easter.