Sermon: Easter, Seven John 17:1-11 May 21, 2023. Rev. Veronica Alvarez Faith/La Fe
Sermon: Easter, Seven John 17:1-11 May 21, 2023. Rev. Veronica Alvarez Faith/La Fe
What would be your prayer request if you could ask Jesus to pray for you?
We might ask for our health, our families, our issues at home or at work; these are some of the prayers we might ask for ourselves or for people we know.
Scripture tells us that when we don’t know how to pray, God’s Spirit prays on our behalf: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).
At times we might well need those “sighs too deep for words.” We may be unsure of how to pray for those things that concern us. We may not even know what we need to pray for. But the Spirit knows and intercedes our behalf.
Jesus encouraged his disciples to make their requests known to God: “Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete” (John 16:23-24).
What an offer! Just ask and you will receive. It’s an offer that Jesus repeated several times in his farewell to his disciples.
But they didn’t respond; for all of their attention was taken up with the thought of Jesus’ departure. They could hardly think of anything else. Instead, Jesus offered his own prayer that is sometimes referred to as his “high priestly prayer.”
The first part of Jesus’ prayer centered on God’s glory. But the glory Jesus spoke of was the glory of finishing God’s work, the glory of being in God’s presence, the glory of returning to God by Jesus’ own death on the cross. It was a horrible glory, but that's what Jesus meant when he said he was glorifying God.
The second part of Jesus’ prayer centered on his disciples. As far as we know, this was not the prayer they asked for, but the prayer that Jesus chose for them and chose for all of us as his followers.
Jesus prayed for those who received his words and who believed in him sent from the Father. He prayed for those who belong to God--we might say for those who were part of the family of faith. Not because they or we asked for this prayer, but because Jesus was moved to pray as he prepared to leave this earth.
In his prayer, Jesus’ two big requests were for protection and unity. He knew only too well the challenges of living in the world.
He had faced plenty of criticism from those who opposed him and misunderstanding even from his closest friends and followers.
He was about to be arrested, tried, and crucified. Yet in spite of the tremendous price, he remained steadfast in doing the work of his Father.
For whatever challenges his disciples would face in the world - whatever criticism or misunderstanding or persecution - he prayed that God would protect them from losing their way (verses 12-15).
Jesus prayed for protection so that the disciples might know the same kind of unity that Jesus knew with his Father.
The disciples had been arguing about who was greatest (Mark 9:33-34). James and John had already asked Jesus if they may sit next to him "in glory" at his right and left in what they felt were the nicest seats in heaven (Mark 10:35-41). The other disciples were angry that they were looking to Jesus for special favors. Even then, they needed protection from division and disunity and Jesus was still with them!.
We need that protection today too. As Christians, we are part of the body of Christ, part of a long line of believers that stretches all the way back to the first disciples of Jesus and that stretches into the future.
We have a unity that spans centuries, generations and territory; one that transcends class and culture; and one that transcends congregational differences.
Yet in some ways, just like Jesus’ first disciples, we’re still arguing about who among us is the greatest. We’re still struggling with family and church dynamics that intensify our differences. We’re still getting angry over issues that divide us. Jesus’ prayer has not yet been fully answered.
Why not? Jesus prayed over fish and bread, and everyone in the crowd received their fill. He prayed at the tomb of Lazarus, and Lazarus was raised from the dead.
But what happened when Jesus prayed for protection and unity for his disciples? One of them betrayed him and later died by suicide. Another denied him. All would end up deserting him. Today the church is still falling apart, and even some congregations may have problems maintaining their unity.
When it comes to Christian unity, we’re clearly still living in the already-but-not-yet. If Jesus were here in the flesh to pray with us or for us, he might still pray that same prayer for our protection and unity. Perhaps that’s one of the prayers the Spirit still sighs over us today.
Yet for Jesus’ first disciples and for us, there are foretastes of that unity he prayed for. The disciples were gathered together when Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection. They received his great commission to share the good news, and the impact of their combined ministry has endured over the centuries.
Today in our church our two cultures share the same building and partner together on community outreach. Taking care of our building, praying for each other. Some of us might not understand each other but we can feel the Holy Spirit working and praying in our midst
The unity that Jesus desires for us is the work of mutual love, to love as he has loved us (Jn 13:34). Unity happens when each one of us loves in such a way that our dedication to others has no limits.
Unity is the key to the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer in our communities. In unity is the strength and obedience of faith in Christ. Unity is the manifestation of life in Christ for all who believe and receive him today and tomorrow. In unity is the manifestation of God's life incarnate in our projects and our interactions as a church.
God gives us protection and he desires that we have a personal relationship with him. When we come to the Lord’s table Christ unites, strengthens and renew us
As a church and as individuals, we’re still on the way with Jesus. His prayer hasn’t been fully answered yet, but God’s not done with us yet either.
let us not grow weary and lose heart. Let’s keep walking together, praying and giving glory to God our redeemer and sustainer for our faith and fellowship, that he protects us from separation and strengthens our unity and love for one another. Amen