Easter 7 B

The first thing to notice about these words of the Gospel —- as confusing as they might seem to be —- is their context: what kind of words are they? Who are they said by, and whom are they said to? When were they said? How do we receive them?

A quick answer to those questions would be: the words are part of a prayer, they are said by Jesus and they are said to God, his father. They are said on the night in which he was betrayed, the night before he would be crucified. And we know these words because we, as disciples, have overheard them.

If you’ve ever longed to know what Jesus might have been thinking or feeling at the most critical juncture of his life…if you’ve ever wished that you could be a fly on the wall when Jesus was really talking to God in that connection that he had… well this is it: the 17th chapter of John is us overhearing a prayer between Jesus and his father. Jesus starts out praying to God, and ends praying to God. At no point does he stop praying in this chapter in order to explain himself or teach the disciples a lesson. It isn’t a case study, or a ceremonial prayer… this is Jesus praying his heart out, just after being betrayed and just before facing the cross. This is one of those types of prayers.

You know that expression ‘no atheists in foxholes?’ —- Hallway prayers of hospitals / me on CPE

In some senses Jesus is in a foxhole here —- In other sense, though, Jesus is fully in control —-

Despite the confidence of Jesus, this is still, after all, the prayer of someone who knows he’s about to be assassinated. Of all the things that he might pray for, in this time of trial, in this final moment, the point of no return… Jesus prays for … us. His disciples.

Jesus knows the challenges we will face —- Discipleship is not easy —-

Altho the Resurrection will show once and for all that Love and Life get the last word… It doesn’t mean that pain is over. Pain is still a part of our lives.

Just as there were those who heard his message of grace and forgiveness and could not accept it, Jesus knew that there would always be a part of us —- of each of us —- that cannot accept God’s love as a gift; a part of us that will continue to fight for our preferred version of the world in which we are in charge, in which we compete and fight our way to the top.

This is the ‘world’ that Jesus talks about when he says that we do not “belong to the world, just as [he does] not belong to the world.” (John 17.16 NRSV)

The way of the world is violence, secrecy, hoarding. The way of the world just cannot stand the idea that we humans aren’t in charge. That we can turn the other cheek. That we can forgive others.

If you are like me, there is a part of you that gets angry every time the Prodigal Son returns from his mistakes and gets off scot free… a part of you that feels a tinge of envy every time something good happens to someone else and not you… that gets defensive when someone questions that image of yourself that you try to maintain.

In the world —- in us —- there is a resistance to God’s gift of Grace. There is a resistance to Resurrection and New Life.

Jesus knows about it firsthand. Jesus knows it will challenge his disciples. So Jesus prays for his disciples —- but —- he does not pray that the challenge will be taken away.

Jesus prays:

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.” (John 17.14–16 NRSV)

If you were following along, overhearing this prayer —-

Why? —-

Because we are sent. Because we have a mission.

Because we are called to be followers of Christ —- to be crucified with Christ. To live out our lives for the sake of the world —- a world that is often challenging to live in. A world that is still in the grips of violence, secrecy, and hoarding. A world that is groaning in anticipation of new life. A world that God loves.

In our living, in our dying, and in our rising to new life, God continues to care for this world —- through us. You and me.

We are sent.

My favorite part? In this prayer that we’ve overheard, Jesus thanks his father for each disciple ‘given to him.’ That means you. Jesus seems to think that each and every one of you is a gift. Even if the world doesn’t always seem to think so. Even if you don’t always think so.

Each of us is sent to share the Good News —- the truth —- that we belong to God through Jesus Christ, who, on the night in which he was betrayed prayed for us, and then showed us that even death cannot separate us from the love of God.