Gradually, the season of Lent is drawing to a close, as Jesus made the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, according to Biblical account. With Palm Sunday being celebrated, and signaling also the Passion Week, we are reminded once again as Christians to remember the tight and narrow path Jesus walked to save humanity from eternal damnation. His plan for us is to transit from this life to eternal glory, where we shall see Him face to face. Aware of the challenges we face as humans, through His suffering, and victory over death, He wants us to remain steadfast and focus only on God who is the reason we are here. So, this time, more than anything else, is a season that we are challenged again to remember and reflect on the life of Jesus, whose intense suffering for no cause of His, at the Garden of Gethsemane brought total salvation to all mankind, having reconciled us with His Father by His atonement on the cross of Calvary with His blood. For our sake, Jesus assumed the form of man, being made in human likeness. “Christ Jesus, though He was in form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2: 6-11). Jesus’ unending love caused Him to abandon the glory of heaven to take human form in obedience, to save the work of His own hand. In our world today, the message of true love which is the bedrock of Christ’ message, surprisingly is interpreted differently by almost all societies of the world, even suppressed or diluted. No wonder countries of the world, including Nigeria are struggling almost at every level because people have failed to embrace the kind of true love Christ brought to mankind. The type of love the world preaches and practices is at variance with God’s message which is full of mercy, succour, love and compassion. The season of Lent however offers every Christian opportunity to make a u-turn, both in our individual lives and as a society because the mercy of God is all sufficient for everyone. We hereby call on all Christians to emulate our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to serve and not to be served. The reason the world is in turmoil, almost everywhere you turn to, is as a result of genuine love that has completely diminished among humans. By our actions as human beings, created in the image of God, we are supposed to liberate others who need our help and not to compound anyone’s problems, looking upon our Lord Jesus Christ as a model for mankind.
