Accra, April 14, GNA - Christians in Ghana on Friday joined others throughout the world to celebrate Good Friday, which marks the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, some 2,000 years ago. The day is a significant event on the Christian calendar, as it affirms the belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.
Most Churchgoers were in mourning clothes - black and red. Some churches had the Lord's Supper on Thursday evening to mark the event, when Jesus had supper with his disciples before his betrayal, crucifixion and death.
Some churches are holding conventions across the country, while Catholic Churches are organising Stations of the Cross to depict Christ's agonising march to his crucifixion and death.
Christians believe that Christ's crucifixion brought salvation to the world and reconciled man to God.
Christian urged to rededicate their lives to Christ
Reverend Father Patrick Bortier, the Parish Priest of the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Friday called on Christians to rededicate their lives to Christ by sharing and showing concern to the underprivileged people in the society.
He said the crucifixion of Christ on the cross came to cleanse Christians of their sins and also gave them the opportunities to renew their faith in him.
Rev. Fr. Bortier was speaking at a Veneration Service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral to mark the Holy Friday, which symbolizes the day of crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The short service was well attended by faithfuls, who wore mourning clothes, while some of the elderly women were seen carrying black and white sticks to symbolize the reverence of the death of Christ on the cross.
Rev. Fr. Bortier also urged Christians to use the day to extend love and felicitation to everybody in the community without discrimination.
He said the church offertory collected during the service would be given to the various orphanages in the capital, as a way of supporting their upkeep.
He called on Christians to emulate Christ by forgiving people, who had wrong them and eschew all negative tendencies to make the death of Christ more meaningful.
"We should use the authority entrusted to us by the people to serve them rather than using it to Lord it over them," he further urged all leaders.
Accra
Unlike other Christian gatherings, believers at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) at the Accra Technical Training Centre were not clad in mourning clothing, but in their normal church clothing.
The atmosphere was, however, solemn as the preacher challenged Christians to utilise the power in the blood of Jesus Christ to their benefit.
The Rev. Michael Asiedu, Head Pastor of the Church, explained that the blood of Jesus had a great redeeming power that enabled believers to access the presence of God, while seeking justification, forgiveness and reconciliation and those who believed Him nullified all condemnation and brought peace.
Rev. Asiedu, who spoke on the theme; "Activating the Speaking of the Blood", said before the death of Jesus Christ mankind was in a state of guilt and condemnation, oppression and in bondage, pain and suffering, anxiety and death, as well as eternal separation from God. "All these indicate that man had no peace at all, but through the blood of Jesus that speaks better works than the blood of Abel, mankind was redeemed from such oppression and had been granted the grace to become heirs to His throne."
He stated that the crucifixion of Jesus bridged the gap that was created between God and mankind and brought peace and hope to humanity and, therefore, believers must celebrate such grace yearly to show appreciation to God for His love.
Rev. Asiedu noted that one of the greatest problems of humanity was forgetfulness, adding that Christians needed not to forget to appreciate the redemption of Jesus Christ when he offered Himself as a price for mankind on the cross.
He also cautioned believers against the act of boasting about their salvation, saying, it was only by the divine grace and mercy of God that one was saved, but not through one's efforts.
He urged Christians to endeavour to grow from being the children of God, who only received baby food, but to strive to stand up to the task of adults and to aspire as missionaries to help to win souls for Christ.
Christians urged to show exemplary leadership
Larteh-Akuapem (E/R), April 14, GNA-The Archdeacon of the Larteh Archdeaconry of the Anglican Church, the Very Rev, J. J. Calys-Tagoe has called on Christians in leadership positions to lead exemplary lives. He said they need to demonstrate by their lifestyles what they expect the people that they were leading to do as Jesus Christ did explaining that such leadership style was the only way to inspire the people to feel part of the governance process and offer the needed support for the development of the country.
Very Rev. Calys-Tagoe was preaching at the Good Friday mass at the St Augustine's Anglican Church at Larteh-Akuapem. He urged leaders to serve the people that they lead but not always to expect the people rather to serve them.
Delivering the sermon at the Adweso Calvery Methodist Church, near Koforidua, the Very Rev. Christopher Nyarku Andam said Christ died on Good Friday as a sacrifice so that despite the sins of human beings, men would be declared righteous.
He therefore, call on Christians to demonstrate in every hing they do including worship and service to the nation and society that they are people who had been declared righteous.
Christians must reflect attributes of Christ Rev Ametefe
Ho, April 14, GNA - Rev. Wilfred Ametefe, Pastor in Charge of the Emmanuel Methodist Church in Ho has said Christians should reflect the lessons of forbearance, forgiveness, obedience and endurance portrayed by Jesus Christ in the face of his tribulations and subsequent crucifixion.
He said these attributes were vital ingredients that should form the character of Christians.
Rev Ametefe was giving the concluding comment on the lessons of the death and crucifixion of Jesus delivered by selected members of the Church.
All the speakers bemoaned the hypocritical attitude of Christians, many of whom they said were not good examples for others because they were often bad neighbours, unfriendly, lacked compassion and hardly sacrificed for anybody.
At the Resurrection Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Reverend Nana Bosomprah, Second Minister, called on Christians to re-examine their lives to make good the suffering and endurance that Jesus Christ went through in his bid to save mankind. He said the Lord Jesus went through so much persecution, pain, suffering and humiliation to the extent that he was stripped naked and nailed to a cross on a hill for all to see, as if he was a criminal. "But in actual fact he was an innocent man, who was sent down to earth by God to fulfil a mission of saving mankind from sin," he said. "The disgrace that Jesus went through during his trial, crucifixion and death is what has brought salvation to the world," Rev. Nana Bosomprah said.
He told the congregation that any time members came across the picture of Christ's crucifixion, they should be reminded that God wants men to humble themselves in all things just as Christ humbled himself even unto death.
Rev. Nana Bosomprah said over the years, some people had tried in vain to distort the message of Jesus' crucifixion and death to no avail. "The truth is that the whole episode did happen once on earth and that fact cannot be changed".
He said Easter was a period of reflection on the fact that all power belong to God, who chose to use men at any point in time to glorify himself.
In reference to the scripture that Pilate tried Jesus, he said God could have redeemed Jesus from such pain and humiliation but he allowed Jesus to remain calm and endure to the end that the scripture could be fulfilled.
"Christians need to bear in mind that on the resurrection day, all would be accountable for our deeds on earth, and we would be examined to see if the positions given us were used to intimidate others or whether we used them to glorify God".
Accra
In a sermon to mark the crucifixion of Christ on the cross, The Very Reverend Ferdinand Hope Gbewonyo, Parish Pastor of the Global Evangelical Church, Yahweh's Chapel, Lashibi, said the death of Christ was the beginning of a new hope for mankind.
He said it was God's purpose to deliver Christ to wipe away the sins of all and also give them the opportunity to renew their faith and draw closer to him.
Reverend Gbewonyo urged Christians to see the Good Friday, which symbolized the day of crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross, as a day of victory.
"Our salvation today lies in the death of Christ on the cross. Through it we all benefit from the redeeming Grace of God and can now come to him in worship and praise," he said.
Rev Gbewonyo, who dwelt his preaching on Isaiah 53 said God had worked out a plan for salvation long before Christ was born and it was therefore necessary for Christians to look up to God to guide them through their plans in all their endeavours.
The short service was well attended by Christian faithfuls clad in black and white attires, a demonstration of reverence of the death of Christ on the cross.
There was great rejoicing marked by the singing of songs of praise and dancing.
Rev. William calls on Christians to make forgiveness, cornerstone of their faith
Hohoe, April 14, GNA- The Reverend William R. Sakoe, Hohoe Parish Pastor of the E. P. Church Ghana on Good Friday exhorted Christians to continue to make forgiveness the cornerstone of the their faith. He said Jesus Christ even though was in agony and discomfort forgave his assailants on the Cross, which should be exemplified by Christians. Rev Sakoe who gave the exhortation in a sermon under the theme, "The Cross, the Symbol of Christ's Triumph" said marriages, friendships and relationships would continue to break-up because aggrieved parties failed to forgive each other as Christ demonstrated on the Cross.
"Where there is forgiveness, there is joy, peace and unity. Learn to forgive those who offend you", Rev Sakoe admonished.
He said the Cross-among other things brought to light the greatness and goodness of God and transposed "to Grace and Glory the symbol of the Cross from a symbol of Disgrace".
Rev Sakoe therefore urged Christians to keep faith in Jesus Christ and live at peace with all persons" for a Christian without the Cross, there is no Crown".
He appealed to Christians to continue to demonstrate love, affection and live in peaceful co-existence with their families, communites and the nation at large.
Jesus holds key to world peace-Pastor
Ho, April 14, GNA- The Reverend Noble James Twulasi, Resident Pastor of Jubilee Christian Centre, Ho, on Friday said it was time world leaders know that Jesus Christ is the only source of peace in the world. He noted that winning battles and the acquisition of material things alone did not represent security, which could only be achieved by accepting Jesus Christ.
Rev. Twulasi, who was delivering a message on the theme " The benefit of Christ's death" on Easter Friday, said the world was in dire need for peace adding, peace could be got through only one man, Jesus Christ.
He said the peace, which is one of the benefits of Christ's crucifixion came with salvation after the resurrection of Christ. Rev. Twulasi noted that it was only with that peace that the world could develop with same understanding. He therefore called on world leaders to " come back to God" and seek that peace which is not through the powers of the gun but accepting Christ and submitting to his supremacy.
Christians must reflect attributes of Christ
Ho, April 14, GNA-Rev. Wilfred Ametefe, Pastor in-charge of the Emmanuel Methodist Church in Ho has said Christians should reflect the lessons of forbearance, forgiveness, obedience and endurance portrayed by Jesus Christ in the face of tribulations and subsequent crucifixion. He said these attributes were vital ingredients that should form the character of Christians.
Rev. Ametefe was giving the concluding comment on the lessons of the death of crucifixion of Jesus delivered by selected members of the Church.
All the speakers bemoaned the hypocritical attitudes of some Christians, which were not good examples for others because they were often bad neighbours, unfriendly, lacked compassion and hardly sacrificed for anybody.
