Bible Text: John 17: 1-11 | Preacher: Rev. Berlin Guerrero | Series: 2020 | for those  left behind.

 

In the case of Jesus and his disciples, Jesus makes sure that when he leaves, his friends and disciples whom he calls his own, are not left to fend for themselves by sending the Holy Spirit or the Paraclete or Advocate to be with them.

 

But not only this, Jesus invites them to deep bond of oneness or unity – a unity in the Holy Triune God.

 

What does this mean to us as Jesus’ disciples today?

 

 

John 17.1-11

 

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

 

‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

 

 

 

There are two important matters that we can notice in this prayer which perhaps we can emphasise:

 

Oneness and Love for the world.

 

Many students of the Bible, particularly of this passage, agree that the prayer has a strong emphasis on unity. Do you also find this in your reading?

 

If the emphasis on unity can be seen in Jesus’ prayer, then we can conclude that he was aware that keeping his beloved disciples united was a challenge. Without cohesion, they would not survive.

A house divided cannot stand.

 

In a world of oppression and persecution, the disciples faces many challenges. A prayer from Jesus asking for protection and unity the provides a great source of comfort to his followers.

 

How important is unity to the church?

Today, there are many things that speak about a church divided and at the same time united. Listen to these words:

 

One body with many parts.

Unity in diversity.

One Spirit, many gifts.

Doctrine divides, service unites.

One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church vs Church Schisms

Differences in age, gender, economic status:

Exclusivism and Inclusivism

Denominations and Inter-denominationalism

Sectarianism – Ecumenism

Church division – Organic Union

 

Church unity remains elusive, yet it is an on-going process and the kind of unity may now be what we imagine it to be.

 

Perhaps Jesus was praying about a unity which we have not yet come to realize or understand, or a kind of unity different from how we understand it or imagine it.

 

Perhaps we will not be able to be one according to Jesus prayer until we learn and practice the kind of oneness between the Son and the Father:  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me (John 14:11)

 

And the oneness or Unity in the Trinity. The co-equality, the respect and hospitality, the mutuality, love and grace that flow from and to each persona of the Triune God.

 

Our lecturer on The Trinity, Jean Gray, told us: If we are able to live out the kind of mutuality, respect, love and grace within the Trinity, our relationships and the society we are part of may find genuine justice and peace.

 

 

Love for the world

 

God has proven God’s love for the world by sending God’s Son into the world so that the world might be save. The saving process continues on through us. Each one of us as a follower of Christ has been invited to be involved in this movement.

 

Our involvement is the only way we can show that we love the world God loves.

 

Why is it that that we can not say we love God if we do not love the world and the people in it?

 

Jesus prays for the world (17:20-21) and sends the disciples, that is us,  into the world so that the world will no longer be separate from God (17:15-23). Jesus was sent to enlighten the world (1:9), to give life to the world (3:16-17; 6:33, 51), to save the world (4:42; 12:47), and to invite the world to join in the love he shares with God (14:31; 17:23).

 

It is a bit of a challenge for us Christians to love a world in chaos because of the pandemic and save the people from COVID-19.

 

But we have the assurance that we can do our share in this task. Going back to the prayer: First, we need to find our unity because this task is a collective task and is led by the movement of the Spirit. We must keep our house united and in order so that we can serve well.

 

Second, our love for the world is not a love that creates extra-ordinary beings or superheroes but Christ-like people who offer their lives in humility and grace. They are patient, almost meek, when relating with difficult co-believers but brave and bold when confronting those who perpetuate injustice and oppression.

 

Third, remember that God lives in you. Remember that it is in living out God’s love for the world that we have the oneness with God and God’s purpose.

 

Amen.

 

 

 

Praying Colossians 1: 1-14

(Part 1 – thanksgiving and confession)

God,

We thank you,

As the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

And as Christ,

And as the Spirit,

We thank you God for all the saints,

Your disciples being the Church throughout the world.

We are thankful and grateful,

For we hear of the faith in Christ Jesus that so many have,

And of the love for all God’s people shown in real and faithful ways,

The faith and love that springs from the hope stored up for us in heaven,

About which we have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to us.

In the same way, we give thanks that the gospel is bearing fruit

and is growing throughout the whole world,

Just as it has been doing amongst people since the day disciples came to know it and truly understand your grace.

We give thanks for all the fellow servants who have been faithful ministers of Christ,

And who have discipled us and others in the Spirit.

May we never stop praying and saying our gratitude and thanks.

Forgive us our flaws and failings,

When we have borne your name but not lived your love or grace,

When we have not borne fruit in the Spirit,

And have put stumbling blocks in the way of people connecting with you.

Forgive us when we have misrepresented your gospel or reduced it to a belief in a transactional theological formula, rather than a reality that is to be lived and shared.

Forgive us for not taking the opportunities before us to be true disciples and live your love and grace, and so disciple others.

Reawaken our faith,

Remind us of our place in your grace,

Re-immerse us in your hope,

That we might join with you and the saints in being disciples and discipling others

As witnesses to your gospel for all.

As Paul wrote, we pray.

Amen.

– Jon Humphries