Akinpelu Oludele Adesola - Online Memorial Website

 

WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES

Have you lost a loved one in death? The pain, the grief, and the feelings of helplessness can seem unbearable. At such times, we need to go to God’s Word for comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4) The Bible helps us to understand how Jehovah and Jesus feel about death. Jesus, who perfectly reflected his Father, knew the pain of losing someone in death. (John 14:9) When he was in Jerusalem, Jesus used to visit Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, who lived in the nearby town of Bethany. They became close friends. The Bible says: “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” (John 11:5) As we learned in the preceding chapter, though, Lazarus died.

How did Jesus feel about losing his friend? The account tells us that Jesus joined Lazarus’ relatives and friends as they grieved over this loss. Seeing them, Jesus was deeply moved. He “groaned in the spirit and became troubled.” Then, the account says, “Jesus gave way to tears.” (John 11:33, 35) Did Jesus’ grief mean that he had no hope? Not at all. In fact, Jesus knew that something wonderful was about to happen. (John 11:3, 4) Still, he felt the pain and sorrow that death brings.

In a way, Jesus’ grief is encouraging to us. It teaches us that Jesus and his Father, Jehovah, hate death. But Jehovah God is able to fight and overcome that enemy! Let us see what God enabled Jesus to do.

For more reference about this wonderful hope you can visit www.watchtower.org 

May the good Lord continue to comfort the entire Adesola family on the demise of Papa Akin Adesola, my revered mentor and role model.

We are consoled by the fact that Papa lived a life of outstanding scholarship, towering integrity.....and left a huge professional legacy.

For these, and many more attributes, he lives on in our hearts.

'They rested from their labour, and their good works live after them.'

'O death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory ?'

'Eternal rest grant him O Lord, and let light perpetual rest upon him'

Remembered today, as always with fondness.

Sleep on beloved, till we meet to part no more.

I wish God's comfort for Professor Akin Adesola's family, all of you who were very close to him, his peers and others who know him to a lesser extent. I first knew him during one of his visits to this country in the 1970's, but my wife and I knew him further when he was Unilorin Vice Chancellor. To me, Professor Adesola epitomized an academic surgeon who demonstrated by his achievements that nobody needs to have a Type A personality (or any particular personality type for that matter) to become a successful surgeon. He belonged to that class of honor roll medical elders who distinguished themselves with their character, learning and specialty practice. I pray that Professor Adesola's patience, sacrifice and huge professional legacy (and the good example of his entire generation) may not be misinterpreted by the powers-that-be and subsequent professional generations of our fatherland. From U.S.A