February 19, 1996
Introduction:
If you knew that today is your last chance to say your last prayer, how would you do it? Would you do it the usual way saying, “Just like yesterday, Lord?” Or would you do it with all sincerity in your heart, with tears flowing from your eyes, with your voice trembling, with your knees shaking? And what would be the content of that prayer? Would it be a prayer for strength and faith? Will it be a prayer for assurance that no matter what happens you are assured of God’s presence? Will it be a prayer about your family, your possessions, your friends, and everything that you have worked for all throughout your life? Will it be a prayer for forgiveness, reconciliation, and unity?
This morning we are going to examine the last prayer, at least in the Gospel of John, which Jesus made before His arrest, His trials, His crucifixion, and finally before His death. What would be Jesus’ last prayer, His last wish for His disciples? What would be Christ’s wish for this church?
Turn with me to the gospel of John chapter 17 and verses 20-23. It says: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, even as we are one: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
From our reading we have learned that Jesus last prayer, his last wish, was for his disciples to come into unity. But this prayer was not only for the unity of his disciples, it was also a prayer of unity for those who would believe in him through the words of his disciples. It was a prayer for the Christian church, for his remnant people, for anyone who believes in him. It was a prayer for the Seventh-day Adventist church. A prayer for the churches here in north America; for churches here in Canada. A prayer for all Filipino churches all throughout the world. And most of all, it was a prayer for the unity of the Montreal-Filipino church. It was a prayer for you and for me. It was a prayer for all of us.
Two thousands years ago when Christ had the last chance to utter his last prayer, his last wish, this church was in his prayer. The Montreal Filipino church was in his prayer. We were in his prayer. You were in his prayer. I was in his prayer. Before this church was even conceived and organized, this church was already in Christ’s prayer. Before you and I were born Christ was already praying for our unity.
Even in the face of death, Christ’s prayer was prayer of selflessness. He did not pray for his holy and mighty angels to come and rescue him from the sufferings which he was about to undergo. Rather he prayed for the unity of his people. He did not pray for his disciples to become perfect materially; he prayed for them to become perfect in unity. He did not pray for his people to become perfect in soul-winning methods and strategies, but for them to be perfect in unity. He did pray for money to build churches, schools, hospitals, and other institutions, but for unity. Christ prayed for unity. Christ is praying for the unity of his people. And he will continue to pray for our unity.
Why pray for unity? Why did Jesus pray for unity instead of praying for the livelihood of his disciples so that they will have means to use for the spreading of his words? Why did Jesus prayed for unity instead of praying for talents and gifts to bestow upon his people? Why not pray for means in order to feed the poor and the hungry? Why not pray for peace and comfort? Why unity?
The answer in short and simple. All the material blessings that we will receive from God, the talents and gifts that the Spirit will endow, all the means that we will have to feed the poor and the hungry, all of these will be of no avail without unity. The church building that we plan to build, and all the souls that we could usher to his feet, the money that we could raise to feed the poor and the hungry, all these will only create disputes and arguments among us if there is no unity. This is, I submit, is the reason why Christ prayed for unity in his last prayer. There is a tremendous power in the spirit of unity that no other thing in this world can bring. Ellen G. White wrote that God’s work on earth would have long been finished if God’s people were united in spreading God’s word.
But how do we achieve unity? Before we could answer this question, we must first answer this question- what is the cause of disunity? What was the problem with the disciples that brought disunity among them?
The Gospel of John does not answer this question. Fortunately, Luke does. Turn with me to the gospel of Luke chapter 22 and verses 23 and 24. Here we find two pieces of evidence that led to the disunity of the disciples. First, in verse 23, the disciples were inquiring among themselves who will be the evil one to betray Christ. Perhaps inquiry was even carried to the point that the disciples started pointing their fingers to one another.
What will happen , as an example, if one of our brothers will come to the front and announce that somebody from this congregation stole his wallet? And as a reaction to his announcement, one of you stood and started pointing his fingers to another person and so on. I am sure that it will create lots of argument and unpleasant emotions.
The reason why there is so much disunity within the church is because we, in our humanity, are quick to point our fingers to others. When God asked Adam for the reason/s why he ate the forbidden fruit, Adam pointed to the woman. When God asked Eve, she pointed her fingers to the serpent. And if the serpent could talk he would probably point Satan as the cause. You see it is easy to point fingers to others rather accept the fact that we also are part of the problem.
When I point my fingers to others, I am saying that I am not responsible for the situation. I am trying to free myself from the responsibility that the situation brings by transferring it to others. When I point my fingers to others I am saying, “ Hey, I am not part of the problem so don’t involve me.” When I point my fingers to others I try not only to elevate myself but also try to degrade others. But most of all, when I point my fingers to others I am indirectly blaming God for creating the other person.
In verse 24 we find another reason that led to the disunity of the disciples. The disciples were arguing among themselves about who will be the greatest. Perhaps Andrew said to the disciples, “ Hey, I am the first disciple therefore I am the greatest among you.” Peter probably responded to Andrew by saying, “ Hey, I am the leader and most outspoken person in this group therefore I am the greatest.”
Judas, on the other hand, asserted that since he is the one that keeps track with their bank accounts and their treasury, therefore he is the greatest. Philip, in response, probably said, “ Well, you know I am the most practical man of this group. When our master commanded me to buy food for our group I knew exactly where to go and what to buy. I am the deacon of the group therefore I am the greatest.”
The rest of the disciples would have made the same proclamation by pointing their contributions to the well being of the group. The harder they asserted their claim to greatness, the farther they drifted apart.
One author put it this way saying, “ The claim to greatness is like being stuck on a moving sand. The harder you move, the deeper you sink.” The first act of disunity that ever happened in the whole universe was that of disunity caused by rebel angel claiming to be great. Lucifer was not satisfied with his present position; he wanted to ascend above God. In the process of doing this he created disunity among God’s followers.
Pointing fingers to others, being critical of their attitude and behavior, elevating ourselves above the other because of pride and selfishness, all these will surely bring disunity within the family, the community, and even within the church.
But how do we overcome these human tendencies which in turn will bring disunity? What did Jesus do to bring unity among his disciples?
Let’s read again the Gospel of John in John chapter 17 and verse 20. Prayer is the key. Jesus, although the greatest preacher that ever lived, did not resort to preaching to bring unity among his disciples, he prayed. Jesus, although the greatest teacher, did not resort to teaching to bring unity among his disciples, he prayed. Jesus, although the greatest miracle doer, did not perform miracles to bring unity among his disciples, he prayed. Jesus used prayer to bring unity among his people. But Jesus used prayer not only to bring unity among his people, he also used prayer to keep united with his Father.
There is power in prayer. Prayer drives Satan away. Prayer is able to unite God’s people. So whenever we are tempted to point our fingers to others, let us try prayer.
THE POWER OF PRAYER
Moses prayed, his prayer did save, a nation from death and from the grave.
Joshua prayed. The sun stood still. His enemies fell in vale and hill.
Hannah prayed, God gave her a son; a nation back to the Lord he won.
Solomon prayed for wisdom. Then God made him the wisest of mortal men.
Elijah prayed with great desire, God gave him rain and a fire.
Jonah prayed, God heard his wail; He quickly delivered him from the whale.
Three Hebrews prayed, through flames they trod; they had as a comrade the “Son of God.”
Elisha prayed with strong emotion; he got the mantle and a “double portion.”
Daniel prayed. The lion’s claws were held by the angle who locked their jaws.
Ten Lepers prayed, to the priests were sent; glory to God! They were healed as they went.
Peter prayed, and Dorcas arose to life again, from death’s repose.
The Thief who prayed-for mercy cried, he went with Christ to paradise.
The Church, she prayed, then got a shock; when Peter answered her prayer with a knock!
Abram stopped praying, cities fell, with all their sins, into hell!
The Disciples kept praying, the Spirit came, with ”cloven tongue,” and revival flame! Conviction filled the hearts of men; three thousand souls were “born again.”
When Christians pray, as they prayed of yore, with living faith for souls implore, in one accord united stand-revival fires shall sweep the land! And sinners shall converted be, and all the world God’s glory see!
Another element that would bring unity among us is what I call “The Tie That Binds.” You remember the story of Joshua and the children of Israel in their quest to destroy the city of Jericho. Joshua sent two spies to survey the city of Jericho. But when the two spies came to Jericho, the king of Jericho have heard about them and sent his soldiers to look for them and to take them. The two spies, fortunately, found refuge in the house of Rahab. Rahab hid the two spies at the roof of her house, and when the soldiers came and asked her where the spies are, she told them that the spies were able to get outside the city gate. She told the soldiers to chase after the two spies which the soldiers did. When the soldiers were gone, Rahab tied a rope into her window and lowered the two spies outside the city gate.
Rahab knew that Joshua and God’s people will soon come and destroy the city. Rahab requested the spies if she and her family could be spared from destruction when the appointed time comes. The two spies told her to bind a scarlet thread in the window as a mark of her unity with God’s people.
Rahab did exactly what the two spies ordered. When the city of Jericho was finally destroyed, Rahab and her family were spared.
The scarlet thread. It was a sign of Rahab’s unity with the people of God. This scarlet thread, I submit, is no other than Christ himself.
It is interesting to know that in the Old Testament times scarlet color was obtained by extracting the bark of the tree. At that time there was a worm called the scarlet worm. This kind of worm, when it was about to deliver its offspring, would attach itself to the bark of the tree and continue to cling to that tree even after the offspring are born to protect them from wind and rain. On the process, the scarlet worm would die clinging to the tree. After a while its colored body will be absorbed by the bark of the tree where it is attached. The ancient Israelites would then extract this scarlet colored body from the bark of the tree and process it to produce a scarlet dye.
Jesus in the same manner clung to the tree, died on the tree so that through his death we can gain unity among ourselves and unity with the father. Christ as portrayed by a hanging scarlet thread at Rahab’s window is the tie that binds. The more we come to Christ, the more we come into unity.
In Christ, all men are equal. During his birth, kings-an epitome of greatness, and shepherds-an epitome of all that is bad, came together to worship him. In Christ, humanity and divinity were united. The great and the small stand equal before him.
In Christ, fishermen, tax collectors, church leaders, Samaritans came together and were united by a common goal and purpose. Angels, children, and elderly sung together in unity.
Christ in his last prayer prayed for unity. But he did not only pray for unity, he also paid the price of unity. As a price of unity, Christ came to forgive, to reconcile, and finally to die.
This evening let us also think about the man Jesus. The man Jesus who suffered and died on that old rugged cross so that in turn we will be reunited with God. The man Jesus who wore a crown of thorns so that in turn we will wear a crown of gold. The man Jesus who was stripped from any coverings so that in turn we can wear his robe of righteousness. The man Jesus-the epitome of unity-the tie that binds.
