April 26, 2024
Fraide for di Week wey Make Four for Easter
Di Readings for Today
Listen for English
Jesus tell His disciples: “Make una no let una hearts worry. Una get faith in God; make una get faith in Me too.” John 14:1
For John Gospel, Chapters 14–17 give us wetin dem dey call Jesus’ “Talks for di Last Supper,” or His “Final Talks.” Na series of teachings wey our Lord give His disciples for di night wey dem arrest Him. These talks get deep meaning, and dem full of pictures wey stand for other things. He talk about di Holy Spirit, di Advocate, di vine and di branches, and di hatred wey di world get. These talks end with Jesus’ Prayer as High Priest. These talks start with today Gospel, where Jesus talk about di fear or worry for heart wey He know say His disciples go soon experience.
Make we start by thinking about this first thing wey Jesus talk above: “Make una no let una hearts worry.” Na command be this. Na gentle command, but e still be command. Jesus know say His disciples go soon see as dem go arrest Him, accuse Him falsely, mock Him, beat Him and kill Him. He know say wetin dem go soon experience go overwhelm dem, so He use this opportunity take speak gently and with love against di fear wey dem go soon face.
Fear fit come from many different things. Some kind fear dey help us, like di fear wey person dey feel when danger dey. For this kind situation, di fear fit make us notice di danger well, so we go move with care. But di fear wey Jesus dey talk about here na another kind. Na fear wey fit make person take decisions wey no follow sense, confuse, and even lose all hope. Na this kind fear our Lord want take gentle way speak against.
Wetin dey make you fear sometimes? Plenty people dey struggle with anxiety, worry and fear for many different reasons. If na something wey you dey struggle with, e important make you allow Jesus’ words sink deep into your mind and heart. Di best way to overcome fear na to speak against am from where e dey come from. Hear Jesus as He dey tell you, “Make you no let your heart worry.” Then listen to His second command: “You get faith in God; make you get faith in Me too.” Faith in God na di cure for fear. When we get faith, na God voice dey control us. Na God truth dey direct us, no be di difficulty wey we dey face. Fear fit make us think in ways wey no follow sense, and this kind thinking fit carry us enter deeper and deeper confusion. Faith dey break through di thinking wey no follow sense wey dey tempt us, and di truths wey faith dey show us dey help us understand clearly and get strength.
Today, think deeply about anything wey dey cause you di most anxiety, worry and fear for your life. Allow Jesus talk to you, call you to faith, and speak against those troubles gently but firmly. When you get faith in God, you fit endure all things. Jesus endure di Cross. Di disciples later endure their own crosses. God want strengthen you too. Allow Him talk to you so you go overcome anything wey dey trouble your heart pass.
My Shepherd wey love me, You know all things. You know my heart and di difficulties wey I dey face for life. My dear Lord, give me di courage wey I need to face every temptation to fear, with confidence and trust in You. Help my mind understand clearly, and give peace to my heart wey dey worry. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditations for Easter Season
