admin Mercy Ngwebvu
“FROM that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day” reads Matthew 16:21. Different perceptions have been held by people inasfar as the meaning and significance of various festivals is concerned. Easter is one such event that has been viewed with different perceptions by different people.
This year’s Easter will be celebrated from April 3 to 6.
While most people think that the occasion is a mere Christian celebration, church leaders took time to elaborate on what Easter really is and shed more light on the significance of this festival to the Christian community and the rest of the world.
Bishop of Roman Catholic Mutare Diocese, Bishop Alexio Muchabaiwa, said Easter shows Christ’s omnipotence and proves beyond doubt that He is the Son of God and not Joseph as is largely believed by non believers.
“Of all the festivals related to Jesus Christ, Easter is the most important because it articulates our cleansing from sins after the capital sin committed in Eden by Adam and Eve. This sin had broken the communication between God and man, but after the death of Christ, the communication link was restored.
“The resurrection of Christ from the dead shows that He is indeed the Son of God not Joseph as is largely believed by non-believers. His immortality also proves that He is not just a prophet as other religions would want to insinuate.
After His death, Christ ascended to heaven and this is a pointer that we have a better home in heaven, therefore Christians should strive to live in righteousness because judgement awaits those who will reject Christ here on earth,” he said.
Asked if they have any special occasions lined up, Bishop Muchabaiwa said aside from the regular church masses, he will also visit Tongogara Refugee Camp for a mass at 11am on Easter Sunday.
Apart from the conventional point of view, Pastor Gibson Murudzwa of Gospel Fire, a Pentecoastal church shared the same sentiments, saying Easter can safely be referred to as the most important event on the Christian calendar.
“Easter is an important event to the Christian community and should be treated with the significance it deserves. It is the opening of a new page in as far as Christian living is concerned. The death of Christ also killed other stringent traditions which suppressed women from leadership roles and brought the dawn of a new era where equality found its place. Despite being a religious festival, various other privileges were born which are still being enjoyed to this day,” said Pastor Murudzwa.
Pastor Humphrey Chigumira of the PAOZ Victory Tabernacle Assembly also took time to elaborate on the significance of Easter to Christians and non Christians, saying the festival is what gives Christianity its uniqueness.
Said Pastor Chigumira: “Easter is very important to Christians because we will be celebrating the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. No one under the earth ever died and resurrected from the dead and so that alone calls for celebration. Easter makes Christianity unique in the sense that we are the only religion which worships a supreme being who is alive. Unlike all the other religions, our Saviour is alive forever and we do not worship mortal beings.”
Easter is a festival and holiday on the Christian calendar, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred three days after his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary.
Online Reporter