If it were in this modern age, most non Christian adherents would have described Jesus Christ as a drug addict, a drunk or a mentally dysfunctional personality.
Jesus was openly hard on the teachings and promoters of old religious practices even as he brutally condemned their rigid ways of life. Yet, Jesus himself was indiscribably controversial in his teachings. “Unless you eat my flesh, and eat my blood, you will not have eternal life”, he charged.
The masses, in spite of the miracles he performed, kicked against Jesus in view of his grossly misconcieved and generally miscontrued attitude or characterization. His most talked about and ultimately misunderstood inclination was his resurrection. Jesus’ waking-up from the dead was the most astonishing miracle ever recorded on Earth. It was sensationally beyond human comprehension.
The resurrection gospel was the central theme, the most remarkably profound episode in the Christian trajectory. It is Jesus’ resurrection that gives Christianity its bite, strength and superior mien over other religious organizations.
Before resurrection, Jesus went through an agonizing experince. He was roundly disgraced publicly, despised and humiliated in a most dejected and derogatory fashion. He was unjustly condemned to death, crowned with thorns and was eventually crucified on the cross as common criminal. His last saying before his death on the cross was “it is finished”, “c’est finis”, “consumatum est”.
It is finished means “This is the beginning of a new era”. It signifies a regeneration, a new period in a new generation. It is finished does not mean the end in itself. It rather demonstrates the end a phase and commencement of another, in a life’s cycle.
When Jesus cried in pains and quipped, “It is finished”, he was actually pointing out that the body form had metamorphosed into a different realm, in another shape and structure. That is, the physical nature has transformed: the sinful nature of man has come to an end.
Significantly, the immediate past Imo State governor, His Excellency, The Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, during his various strategic sociopolitical and cultural engagements in this Easter season, has always stated thus: “It is finished”.
According to Ihedioha who normally identufies with the masses, “Our days in Egypt is finished. Our time in the political wilderness is finished. We know this because the power of Jesus’ resurrection is our strength. The resurrection of Jesus gives us joy, it boldens our faith in all we do”.
Ihedioha is a man with intellectual capacity. He perfectly understands the true interpretation of Jesus’ last comment on the cross – It is finished! In real terms, Ihedioha’s Easter message of “consumatum est” is to put into reality and practice Jesus’ memorial on the Cross of Calvary.
Understandably, it is finished as employed by Ihedioha (and following what Jesus said shortly before his death) simply means, “We have changed shape, and so the failures of yesteryear are over”. It is finished is Ihedioha’s method, as a Christian, of imploring Imolites and his allies to genuinely grapple with the tempo of the moment, which is, a change of sociopolitical attitude.
It is finished here, as preached by Ihedioha in this season stands for not repeating the mistakes of the past as well as avoiding old habits that never yielded positive results for the masses. It is finished here represents the complete evaporation of the old political order that politically produced chaos, generated social ills and encouraged religious disharmony.
As Jesus resurrected on Easter Sunday and preached the gospel of love, peace, togetherness and unity, so also, Ihedioha, a follower of Jesus in words and actions, emulated his saviour and redeemer of mankind, to preach social justice, tolerance, and understanding among Imolites and Nigerians.
In summary, Ihedioha’s consumatum est marks the end of the old order. Old order of impunity, old order of lawlessness, old order of backwardness; of insecurity, joblessness, hunger and poverty. In fact, Ihedioha’s it is finished meant the end of executive recklessness, legislative rascality and judicial perversion. Imolites nay Nigerians, Ihedioha says to you, do not be afraid because “consumatum est”. Happy Easter Monday!
