Cape Coast, March 21, GNA - Churches in the Cape Coast metropolis were filled to capacity as Christians held church services to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago. The Orthodox churches sketched events that led to Christ's crucifixion and death.

Most Christians were spotted in black and red clothing to signify the solemnity of the day as they prayed for the development and growth of the church, the nation and the Presidency. In a sermon at the St. Joseph Catholic, Reverend Father Samuel Asantey said the death of Jesus Christ was of tremendous significance to all.

He asked that the day should be used for true reconciliation and forgiveness just as Christ forgave those who persecuted and crucified him.

Father Asantey said everyone needed God's forgiveness and stressed the need for all to take advantage of the solemn commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ to treat one another with love. He said since Christ had redeemed mankind; "We should live humbly before God and allow the power of the Holy Cross to free us all from sin, hatred, falsehood, jealousy and unforgiving spirit that hold us captives".

Father Asantey described Good Friday as a "perfect day" for the "healing of spiritual wounds" and urged Christians to use it to heal theirs.

He said Christians must truly forgive their neighbours from their hearts and give all their hurts and bitterness to God in prayer. This, he stressed, would be the only way they would be acting as true followers of Christ.

At the Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Very Reverend Theophilus Anderson, Superintendent Minister, expressed the hope that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, reconciled Pilate and Herod, then the bitterest enemies, adding that Christians must take a cue from that.

He said apart from reconciliation, Christ's death was also designed to save and set mankind free from all kinds of bondages including sin, hatred, acrimony and discrimination.

Rev. Anderson urged all Christians to use the occasion to form attitudes that would make them true followers of Christ and to show the world that His death could really bring relief to the captive and reconciliation to enemies.

The head pastor of the Cape Coast branch of the Victory Bible Church International, Reverend Richard Ampadu-Duku said the purpose of the crucifixion of Christ was to restore mankind to his former glorious state.

He said Christ's death erased every negative pronouncement against mankind and urged Christians to pray always as that was the only tool to keep them close to God.