This year’s Easter Celebration is already gathering momentum. For Celestial members home and abroad the annual event is slated to hold in its usual style at arishes all over the world, in accordance to the provision in the Order Of Service. We must strictly adhere to this without addition or subtraction. May the grace of God almighty will abide with us all as we follow this! Amen. Please check the banner for more information:
Tenet: On Easter Celebration By Rev. A.A. Bada April 4, 1987.
To Celestians, this is celebrated in remembrance of the Exodus, the time of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage as it is also the time the deliverance of God comes through our Lord Jesus Christ to humanity. Exodus 13:1-4; 34:18. The significance is that the Passion Week marks the time when the only begotten son of God surrendered his life an atonement for the sins of the world. (Jesus Christ is often referred to as the firstborn of the father) Heb. 1:6. The Passion Week (Palm Sunday night to Holy Saturday) is an eventful week for all Celestians, the only week when it is statutory for Celestians to fast. On Palm Sunday, Christendom proclaims the kingship of Jesus Christ. This is otherwise known as the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Zech. 9:9-10; Lk. 19:32-38; Matt. 21:5-9; Mk. 11:1-10; John 12:12-15. One of the events – washing of feet takes place on Holy Thursday.
The rite of washing of feet in Celestial Church of Christ has a great significance. By the rite, it is believed that the eternal curse Gen. 3:15 on the descendants of Adam is removed, John 13:8. All the signs of the curse should be washed off before one can enter the Kingdom of God.
Here is the story of one Senior Elder Olowoloba a member of Celestial Church of Christ at Arepo Village in the sixties. For about three years consecutively, he and the entire parish missed the service of washing of feet. He became seriously ill to the point of death. In a state of comma he saw a very long white ship into which Celestians were filing. tie hurriedly put on his sutana and ran to the ship only to discover that there was a roll call. At the end of the roll call, he did not hear his name. He moved near and protested since he too was a Celestian. He was asked to show a sign that he was truly a Celestian. They looked thoroughly at his feet and saw no mark; he was then asked to run back to Makoko, get his feet washed before he could qualify to enter the ship. When he came round, he gathered himself up and with all his family and the church members came to Makoko where the service of washing of feet was coincidentally in progress. He narrated his experience, washed his feet, and all the members of his family and members washed their feet too. Eventually he got well soon after; but he died the same year.
A full service and administration of Holy Communion follow washing of feet on Holy Thursday evening. Mark 14:22-26; Lk. 22:14-20; 1 Corin. 11:23-32. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Blessed are ye if know these things and do them” John 13:17. Again he said, “This do in remembrance of me “Lk. 22:19. It has become statutory in Celestial Church of Christ worldwide to administer Holy Communion on quarterly basis – three monthly exercises.
