7th Sunday of Easter
John 17: 20-26
"We are One with the Spirit"
"I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which thou hast given me in thy love for me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee; and these know that thou hast sent me. I made known to them thy name, and I will make it known, that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."" John 17:20-26, RSV.
Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, the risen Christ. Amen
There is a song that our young people sing that really fits the text for today. The text for today is part of Jesus’ farewell prayer where Jesus prays for his disciples before he leaves the, His prayer is about unity, about all of us being one in Christ.
So the song they young people sing goes like this:
"We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord,
And we pray that ll unity may one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love."
He says in john 17: 21 "that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me."
Jesus and the Father are one and the disciples and those who may believe may be one in us. Jesus plus the Father plus those who believe equal one. One!! We are all one in the body of Christ.
Just think, we are all one today in the body of Christ. One. One leader, one person in charge, Jesus Christ. Jesus knew something that we sometimes forget. We need someone in charge. We need to have someone that everyone can turn to.
We need more than a committee. Jesus knew that the 12 disciples needed someone to be in charge. Someone had to be the leader. And that leader was Him.
There could not be one chosen successor to Jesus. His message had to go forth. It had to go forth as a light in the darkness, as a gift in a world sorely lacking in love. It was the message of Jesus, told in his words, in the story of his life. A single successor might be deified, might become the focal point for all the love and faith people had for Jesus. And so, 12 disciples, 12 teachers, 12 messengers, 12 men who would be cowering, hiding behind locked doors, fearing for their lives, silenced.
A committee can never win the hearts of people.
A committee can never inspire passion.
A committee can never lead as a light shining in the darkness.
They needed to be one, they needed to support each other, they needed to remind each other of the story of faith. When one falters another is there to support. When one falls, another is there to stand in the breach and to pick up their fallen comrade.
Dietrick Bonhoeffer says in his book "Life Together":
" God has willed that we should seek and find His living Word in the witness of a brother/sister, in the mouth of a man/ woman. Therefore, the Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s Word to him/her. He/she needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself without belying their truth. He needs his brother man as a bearer and proclaimer of the divine word of salvation. He needs his brother solely because of Jesus Christ. The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother, his own heart is uncertain, his brother’s is sure."
This is a picture of what God wants people in the body of Christ to do for others as they grow in faith. In fact, all of us need more that a committee to strength our faith, we need the person sitting right next store. For in that person the love of Christ abides and then that person shares that faith.
We celebrated a day in the church year on May 17th which is barely noticed. Yes, it was the Ascension of Jesus. At that time according to Matthew’s gospel, Jesus gave the disciples the Great Commission. He said, "Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things which I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
At the ascension the disciples were given the commission to go, but Jesus also told them that they should wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to descend upon them, so that they might be filled with his presence to do the task that lay ahead. That power was given on Pentecost, which is another major festival that goes barely noticed in our church. Next Sunday, we celebrate the Pentecost event. Next Sunday, we celebrate the coming of God’s spirit into the lives of the disciples. Next Sunday we celebrate the birthday of the church, we celebrate the power given to the disciples to go, to make disciples, to baptize in the name of the trinity.
Today, we are in a period of time that is somewhat confusing. Jesus has ascended, he has given the great commission, but the power to do the task that lay ahead has not been given, so the disciples go back to the upper room to wait, to think, to ponder, to pray, to trust, to believe. And I think we can use this time for a like purpose. This Sunday is a good time for all of us to come to some clear thinking about that gospel message Jesus is asking us to proclaim. It is time to pray, to ponder, to renew, to refresh, to examine again in a personal way what the gospel message means for us, what it means that Jesus is lord of my life.
In our gospel lesson this morning Jesus gives us a brief outline of that message, he tells us in simple way what the gospel message is all about.
First he says, that He and God are one. There is an unity in the God head. Jesus was God’s revealed will on this earth. If you want to know about God look to Jesus. If you want to know what God is like, how he is going to treat you, look to Jesus. It says in John 3:17 "For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."
God’s will for this world is salvation and Jesus brought that salvation, brought that will to this earth. The God of wrath that is seen in the Old Testament is also the God of grace as revealed in Jesus. God is more than the vengeful God of the Old Testament, he is the loving God of the new.
Jesus says in John 5:36, "For the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me." Jesus and God are one, their purpose is one to save, to redeem a fallen world.
But not only does Jesus say the he and the father are one, but he tells the disciples that they and him are one. There is a togetherness, an unity, a harmony, a common cause between him and the disciples. There is a bond that links Jesus with his disciple, just as the bond of love links Jesus and his father in heaven.
Another verse in the song that our young people sings about our walk with each other.
"We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they’ll know we are Christian by our love, by our love."
Now just think of what we can accomplish in life, if we had the attitude that Jesus is standing by our elbow, and we are following his directions, his advice, his guidance as we go about our journey?
A poem says it well about following Jesus:
WALKING WITH JESUS LEAVES FOOTPRINTS FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
Even after we have left
This earthly scene below,
The witness of our life still speaks
Of Christ, whom all can know. 1
As we walk with Jesus it rubs off on those around us. As we walk with Jesus as our guide our life is fulfilled. He touches us and then we touch those around us.
A nice closing story speaks about the guide and our "ride" with him.
At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong; so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was there, sort of like a picture of a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him.
Later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life was like a bike ride, on a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don’t recall when he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.
When I had control, it was rather boring, and predictable... It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead,He knew the exciting paths to take, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to just hang on! At
times it seemed like madness. He said: "Pedal!"
And by faith I did, although I worried and was anxious. "Where are you taking me?" He laughed, but no answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.
When I’d say, "I’m scared," He’d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people that had gifts that I needed. Gifts of healing,acceptance, love, and joy. So many priceless gifts to take on my journey... my Lord’s and mine. Then we were off again. He said, "Give
the gifts away, they’re extra baggage now... there’ll be more gifts to come." So I did, I gave them to people we met, and found that in giving I also received, and my burden was lighter.
I didn’t trust him at first to be in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it, but I discovered he knows how to handle even the roughest roads in my life. Now I’m learning to be quiet and pedal in the strangest places. I’m beginning to enjoy the view, the challenge of the ride, as well as the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion... Jesus Christ.
When it seems I just can’t take anymore, I keep my eyes and faith on Him. He looks at me, with a big smile, and says... "Keep on Pedaling."2
Yes keep on pedaling.
Amen
Written by Pastor Tim Zingale May 14, 2007
You may freely use this but please give credit. Not for commercial use.
1 DailyBreadFeedingTheSoul e-mail group
2 from inspirationdaily e-mail group
