By Sam Eyoboka & Olayinka Latona

THERE is renewed tension in parts of the North as churches across the country put finishing touches to preparations for Easter Sunday, regarded as one of the most important celebrations in the Christian calendar, just as police commissioners have been put on red alert to forestall any attempt by any militant groups to truncate the religious celebration.

Easter Sunday follows Passion Week, the last week before the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross over 2,000 years ago.
Feelers from different parts of the North indicate that the police high command had ordered security beef ups around churches in the region.

Reports showed that heavily armed policemen and soldiers were deployed to strategic locations in Jos, Kano, Kaduna, Maiduguri and other trouble spots in the North including parts of Kogi State. This, we were told, was in addition to the heavy barricades around Christian worship centres especially Catholic churches which appear to be the targets of renewed attacks by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

The scene of the bomb blast at Christ Embassy Church, Morocco Road Suleja

There were even whispers that the meeting summoned by the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, a few days ago, was actually to ask police commissioners to ensure peace in their domains as well as forestall the activities of  militant groups in the country. He also used the occasion to order motorized police patrols of all the nation’s highways to check banditry.

On their own accord, many churches have also gone the extra mile to monitor the activities of all those coming in and going out of the worship places before, during and after services.

A cross section of orthodox Christians in the North, who spoke with our correspondents, expressed happiness at the opportunity to be alive to celebrate  Easter Sunday but they were unanimous in their call on security agencies to protect them during and after Easter.

The security situation in the North and the unrelenting bomb attacks on churches which left several persons dead and many others injured, have adversely affected church attendance in the region with several of them making efforts to find a solution to the problem through volunteer groups like the Boy Scouts, Boys Brigade and  retired military personnel. In addition, many churches have resorted to the searching of bags and frisking of women before allowing them entry into the premises.

There was a consensus among the hierarchy of Northern Christians to orientate their members and the children to be alert at all times and report any suspicious object or movement to the authorities. All these measures compliment prayers for the peace of the region .

Catholic churches across the country held Chrism Mass on Thursday which was described by the Lagos Archdiocesan Director of Social Communications, Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu, as a day when Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples.

According to him: “Today we celebrate Christ’s two fold of himself; (1) To his enemies, he died on the cross for the life of the world. He is the paschal victim, whose blood saves his people. (2) To his friends and disciples, his Church – that is, to us – in the sacrament of his body and blood.

The order of the towel.
He poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of his disciples, and wiped them with a towel. Then he came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to him”: Lord, you are washing my feet?…..You shall never wash my feet!‘’ Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part in me‘’. Simon Peter said to Jesus: Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head‘’. Jesus said to him: He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean‘’ – John 13:1-11.
“Leadership is a fascinating topic.

But Jesus painted a different picture of leadership. As He wrapped up His work, Jesus held a dinner for His closet associates (Last Supper). Instead of delivering a state-of-the-nation address or naming a successor, He chose to leave His seat at the head of the table and pick up certain things – basin of water and a towel. He then washed the feet of every person at the table – even Judas, His betrayer (John 13:1-20).

“Foot-washing was usually performed by household servants (the lowly) as an act of hospitality to weary, dusty guests (compare Luke 7:44). Leaders and hosts did not stoop to such a menial task. Bust Jesus did. Seated once again at the table, the Lord asked whether His followers understood what He had done (John 13:12) He then exhorted them to adopt the same posture and style of serving others, thereby following His example. He assured them that they would be blessed if they did (vv. 15-17).

“Jesus still calls believers today to become members of the “Orders of the Towel”. As Christ’s followers, we need to lead others by serving them. What else do we learn from Christ’s Responding to a controversy among his disciples (Matt. 20: 25-28), Jesus revealed a unique style of leadership—what it means to be a “Slave” in order to become great (v. 27). What does it mean to define leadership in terms of servant hood? Jesus suggested that both involve seeking the highest good for others – good as evaluated from God’s perspective.

“In the light of Jesus’ own example – particularly in giving up His own life as a “ransom for many” (v. 28) – it is observed that servant leadership means seeing ourselves as called by God to serve and lead others; knowing intimately the people we serve and led’ caring deeply about the people we serve and lead and being willing to sacrifice our own convenience to meet the needs of the people we serve and lead.

“Jesus still calls believers today to become members of the “Orders of the Towel”. As Christ’s followers, we need to lead others by serving them. If we want to follow Christ, we must follow his example of self-giving and of service – ‘washing one another’s feet’. The whole purpose of today’s liturgy is to enable us to make this self-giving the real motivation for our lives.