April 9, 2022
Satide of di Fifth Wik for Lent
Readings for Today
Listen for English
But one of dem, Caiaphas, wey be high priest that year, tell dem, “Una no know anything, and una no even consider say e better for una make one man die instead of di people, so that di whole nation no go perish.” John 11:49–50
As we see for yesterday reflection, e important make we begin put our mind on di suffering and death of Jesus. Holy Week go start this Sunday, so na this time of di year God want make we look His Cross with full attention. E important make we look am from every side, make we try understand wetin dey happen, wetin Jesus dey go through, wetin di disciples dey go through, and even wetin di Pharisees and high priests dey go through.
For today Gospel wey we quote above, we see how Caiaphas, di high priest, dey think. Im words draw attention because dem bring sadness and still be prophecy at di same time. Im, together with di other chief priests and di Pharisees, don dey begin plan and plot how Jesus go die. But wetin help us understand dem na wetin seem to dey drive Caiaphas and di others.
Jesus dey become more popular, and dem dey fear say this popularity go cause trouble with di Romans. Dem still dey jealous because Jesus don draw so many people to Himself. So Caiaphas bring this crooked reasoning say e better make one man die instead of all di people. In other words, e be like say im dey think say, because Jesus dey become so popular, and di people dey listen to Jesus pass how dem dey listen to di chief priests and Pharisees, e better make dem remove di “problem” so that things fit return to how dem be before.
Dis show say di Pharisees care more about their own self and their position pass di Truth. E dey surprise person say one thing wey dem take criticize Jesus na say E dey do too many signs and wonders. How strange! If di chief priests and Pharisees really care about di Truth, dem for don see di glory and divine authority of Jesus, believe in Am and follow Am. But dem no fit put their pride for one side and accept di call to follow another person instead of their own self. Dem no fit let go of their position of authority.
We dey often see this same thing for our everyday life. We want make everybody attention dey on us. And plenty times, when we see another person do well or receive praise, jealousy fit enter our heart. And this jealousy fit often turn to envy. Envy mean say di good wey dey another person life dey vex us and make us sad. We fit keep am for mind, dey bitter about am and want make di person fail.
Di best thing na to be one of those wey dey follow Jesus faithfully. E especially important make you think deep about this for this coming week as you see how di hatred against our Lord dey grow. Wetin you for do if you dey there? You for continue to stand with Jesus even as others dey attack Him? As di hatred against Jesus dey grow, you for draw back from Him, or you for draw closer to Him with love and firm commitment?
Today, think deep about di remembrance of di persecution of our Lord wey dey come. Make your mind begin think about di different ways people take react and di things wey dem go through for that first Holy Week. Put yourself for their place and try go through am with Jesus. Di aim na make we find ourself there with Him for di foot of di Cross on Good Friday, with love and courage, as we stand by Him and love Him for every step of di way.
My Lord wey dem dey persecute, make I follow You for dis Holy Week wey dey come. Make I get di love wey I need to love You even as people reject You and You dey suffer pain. Help me to leave all envy and selfishness, and to see You especially for other people suffering and for di goodness wey dey inside dem. Jesus, na You I trust.
(Satide of di Fifth Wik for Lent)
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
Main picture for up: Christ Wey Dem Crown with Thorns, by Matthias Stom, through Wikimedia Commons
