Month: April 2019

Answer:

Dismas and Gestas are the names sometimes mentioned as the two thieves crucified on crosses to the right and left of Jesus. In the New Testament accounts of the crucifixion, two men are mentioned, yet their names are never given.

The names Dismas and Gestas do not come from the New Testament, but are taken from a pseudepigraphal book not included in the New Testament canon. As a result, whether Dismas and Gestas were the true names of the two men crucified at the time of Jesus is unknown.

The names Dismas and Gestas are first found in the apocryphal writing entitled “The Gospel of Nicodemus” that historians typically agree was written in the 4th century.

Since this document was written over two centuries after the events and is found in a book containing other disputable information, few argue that much certainty can be attached to these two specific names.

Finally, it should be mentioned that Dismas (sometimes spelled Dysmas) was the name associated with the good thief who asked Jesus to remember him in paradise (Luke 23:43), while Gestas was the one who taunted Jesus along with the crowd. In the Roman Catholic tradition, Dismas was canonized as a saint whose feast is celebrated March 25.

Moses Durodola

CONVENER, DMC

Answer: When seeking what we can learn from the thief on the cross, it should be remembered that at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, two thieves were crucified beside Him (Luke 23:33–43), and both began their time on the cross by mocking and blaspheming Him, as did many of the spectators. One of the thieves responded in faith to the message of salvation and was taken to paradise that very day. He is the one usually referred to as the thief on the cross, while the other man did not respond in faith and is now suffering from a deadly and eternal mistake.

It is remarkable that, while in the excruciating and mind-numbing torment of the cross, the Son of Man had the heart, mind, and will to pray for others. Yet it is a miracle that one thief, while in agony himself, heard the Spirit of God call him to repentance and acceptance of the forgiveness God was just about to provide through the death of Christ. While the disciples were abandoning the Lord, this man answered the call, and his sins were forgiven, including his blasphemy against the Son of God (Luke 5:31-32, 12:8–10).

That the other thief rejected Jesus is remarkable in its own right. While being tortured on the cross he literally joined his torturers in insulting the Savior of the world, and he most likely did so because he wanted his torturers to think he was just like them, joined to the world and with no love for God (Matthew 27:44). Not only was this man next to the Savior, he heard Him pray, he witnessed the salvation of the other thief, he saw the world go dark, and he heard the testimony of the Son. But his pride kept him from submitting to the only One who could save him, and when he one day bows to the Name he mocked, he will be doing so reluctantly and while in torment (Philippians 2:10).

What we learn from the saved thief on the cross is that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, and no matter the number of our sins and no matter if we, or the world, think our sins are minor or extreme, it is never too late to repent and accept the free gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8–9; Revelation 22:17). Moreover, as long as someone still has a mind and the will to choose life over death (Hebrews 9:27), it is not too late to proclaim the gospel, which hopefully will open a heart to a miracle by the Holy Spirit.

Moses Durodola

CONVENER, DMC

The Easter Monday is also known as the Bright Monday, Renewal Monday, Wet Monday, and Dyngus Day.

It is the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday.

It is observed by many Christian groups, but primarily by the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. It marks the beginning of Easter Week (Roman Catholic) / Bright Week (Eastern Orthodox).

Different Cultures observe Easter Monday very differently.

For some, Easter Monday is a solemn remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection marked by an outdoor procession.

For others, there are Easter egg-rolling competitions.

For still others, siblings and/or spouses wake each other up by pouring buckets of water on each other (hence the name “Wet Monday”).

And others celebrate with a large gathering and a polka festival (Dingus Day).

Anyway the day is mostly celebrated as the day the Disciples went to meet with Jesus Christ at Galilee after His Resurrection.

There is a lot embedded in the Galilee Encounter with Jesus Christ which a lot of Christians nowadays should desire to get.

Moses Durodola

CONVENER, DMC

There is a lot of confusion regarding what Easter Sunday is all about.

For some, Easter Sunday is about the Easter Bunny, colourfully decorated Easter eggs, and Easter egg hunts.

Biblically speaking, there is absolutely no connection between the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the common modern traditions related to Easter Sunday.

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week, Sunday (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2,9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1,19).

Jesus’ Resurrection is most worthy of being celebrated (see 1 Corinthians 15).

For the Christian, it is unthinkable that we would allow the silliness of Easter eggs and the Easter bunny to be the focus of the day instead of Jesus’ resurrection.

By all means, celebrate Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Christ’s resurrection is something that should be celebrated every day, not just once a year. At the same time, if we choose to celebrate Easter Sunday, we should not allow the fun and games to distract our attention from what the day should truly be all about — the fact that Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and that His Resurrection demonstrates that we can indeed be promised an eternal home in Heaven by receiving Jesus as our Savior.

Moses Durodola

CONVENER, DMC

The Holy Saturday is the name given to the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Some Christians recognize The Holy Saturday, the seventh day of Holy Week, as the day on which Jesus Christ “rested” from His work of providing Salvation to all Mankind.

As Jesus died, He called out with a loud voice: “It is finished!”

… There was no further price to be paid; sin had been atoned for.

After His crucifixion, Jesus Christ was laid in a nearby tomb, and His body remained there the entirety of Holy Saturday (Matthew 27:59-60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53-54; John 19:39-42).

Churches that celebrate Holy Saturday traditionally do so by observing a day of somber reflection as they contemplate the world of darkness that would exist without the hope of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

Indeed, without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we would be in dire straits and the purpose of our Salvation would have been in vain.

If Jesus Christ had never been raised, “your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

The disciples had scattered when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:50), and they spent the first Holy Saturday hiding for fear of also being arrested (John 20:19).

The day between Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection would have been a time of grief and shock as the stunned disciples tried to understand the murder of Jesus Christ, the betrayal of Judas, and the dashing of their hopes.

The only biblical reference to what happened on Holy Saturday is found in Matthew 27:62-66.

After sundown on Friday comes the day of Preparation. The Chief Priests and Pharisees visited Pontius Pilate. This visit was on the Sabbath, since the Jews reckoned the day as starting at sundown.

They asked Pilate for a guard for Jesus’ tomb because they remembered Jesus saying that He would rise again in three (3) days (John 2:19-21) and wanted to do everything they could do to prevent that.

As we know, the Roman guards were inadequate to prevent the resurrection, and the women who returned to the tomb on Sunday morning found it empty.

The Lord had risen – Hallelujah!!!

Moses Durodola

CONVENER, DMC

Good Friday, is also known as “Holy Friday.”

It is the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday.

The Friday before Easter is the most Solemn Day for Christians. It is the day Jesus Christ died on the Cross. It is celebrated traditionally as the day on which Jesus Christ was Crucified.

The Bible does not instruct Christians to remember Christ’s death by honouring a certain day. The Bible does give us freedom in these matters.

However. Romans 14:5 tells us – “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”

Rather than remembering Jesus Christ’s death on a certain day, once a year, the Bible instructs us to remember Jesus Christ’s death by observing the Lord’s Supper.

… 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 declares, “… do this in remembrance of me … for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

Good Friday marks the slaying of our Jesus Christ – the unblemished Lamb and the Perfect Sacrifice. He took our guilt and blame upon Himself so we could be with Him in Paradise.

He didn’t carry the cross  for weight lifting, neither did He endured the flogging to marry a Fulani lady nor did He wear the crown to be the next Oba of Benin – He did it all for you, your family and I. 

Why then is Good Friday referred to as “Good”?

What the Jewish Authorities and Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good at all in all ramifications (see Matthew chapters 26 and 27).

However, the results of Jesus Christ’s death are very Good!

Romans 5:8 says: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

1 Peter 3:18 tells us: “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

Many Christian Churches celebrate Good Friday with a subdued Service, usually in the evening, in which Jesus Christ’s death is remembered with Solemn Hymns, Prayers of Thanksgiving, a message centered on Jesus Christ’s suffering for our sakes, and Observance of the Lord’s Supper.

Whether or not Christians choose to “celebrate” Good Friday, the events of that day should be ever on our minds because the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, along with His bodily resurrection is the paramount event of the Christian Faith.

I pray that His Death and Resurrection will bring to you, your family and I Salvation and all the Goodies of Good Life and great living attached to it in Jesus Mighty Name – Amen.

Moses Durodola

CONVENER, DMC

The Maundy Thursday, also known as “Holy Thursday,” is the Thursday of Passion Week, one day before Good Friday (the Friday before Easter).

Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper.

Two important events are the focus of Maundy Thursday:

1. First, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20).

Some Christian Churches observe a Special Communion Service on Maundy Thursday in memory of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples.

2. Second, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an “Act of Humility and Service”; thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17).

Some Christian Churches observe a foot-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday to commemorate Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples.

The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.”

The “Maundy” in “Maundy Thursday” refers to the command Jesus Christ gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another.

The question is: Should we observe Maundy Thursday?

The Bible neither commands nor forbids it.

It is a good thing to remember the Last Supper and Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. It is a good thing to remember the Lord’s example of humility.

However, at the same time, we should avoid ritualistic observances of holidays unless they are truly focused on God and our relationship with Him – Observing a Special Lord’s Supper Service on Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday in remembrance of the Last Supper is a good thing to do. Doing a foot-washing in remembrance of how Christ humbled Himself and washed the feet of the disciples is a powerful reminder of how we are to live the Christian life (Philippians 2:1-11).

Let’s just make sure we are observing Maundy Thursday in a way that truly honours what happened at the Last Supper.

Moses Durodola

CONVENER, DMC

In Christianity, the Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday is the last Wednesday prior to Easter Sunday.

It is the fourth day of Holy Week after Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, and Holy Tuesday.

Depending on the denomination, this particular day may or may not be celebrated at all. Those that do observe Holy Wednesday, such as Eastern Orthodox churches, typically mark it with readings of particular scriptures and the singing of relevant hymns.

According to the traditional interpretation of the Bible, the Holy Wednesday is the day on which Jesus was anointed with spikenard during a meal (Matthew 26:6–13).

The day is sometimes called “Spy Wednesday” since it is traditionally thought of as the day Judas conspired with local authorities to betray Jesus Chrost (Matthew 26:14–16).

Moses Durodola

CONVENER, DMC

In Christianity, the Holy Tuesday is the last Tuesday prior to Easter Sunday. It is the third day of Holy Week after Palm Sunday and Holy Monday.

Depending on the denomination, this day may or may not be celebrated at all.

Those that do observe Holy Tuesday, such as Eastern Orthodox Churches, typically mark it with readings of particular passages of Scriptures and the singing of relevant hymns.

According to common interpretation of the Bible, Holy Tuesday is when Jesus was issued various challenges by the Pharisees and Sadducees over subjects such as marriage in Heaven, paying taxes to Caesar, and the source of His authority (Matthew 21:23—23:39; Mark 11:27—12:44; Luke 20:1—21:4).

By this same interpretation, this is the day Jesus commented on the widow’s donation (Mark 12; Luke 21) and was approached by a number of God-fearing Greeks (John 12:20–36).

The Holy Tuesday would also be the day Jesus spoke His eight “woes” against the Pharisees (Matthew 23:13–36) and the evening on which He delivered the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24—25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5–36).

Moses Durodola

CONVENER, DMC