12 May 2024 Easter 7

Acts 1.15-17, 1.21-26   Psalm 1   1 John 5.9-13   John 17.6-19

What would it be like to have eternal life now and to trust the future to God’s everlasting love.  Maybe we would be able to let go of our fears and respond to the needs of the world, because we would know that our lives are in God’s hands.  John, in his letter tells us that God is among us and with us, that Jesus is our ‘spiritual friend’, and when we are connected to Christ we can experience eternity in our changing world and in God’s heavenly realm.  Yes, we can still be afraid, but, as we confront the challenges of our time, we need not be afraid of our fear.

And, bearing that in mind, what would it be like for Jesus to pray for you; for Jesus to know all your challenges and hopes and to intercede on your behalf.  This is what the first disciples experienced.  On the evening before his crucifixion, while anticipating an immediate future that included betrayal, trial, beating, condemnation and execution, Jesus – stops everything and prays for those he loves.  And I think that prayer is still operative in our lives today.

In this prayer, Jesus prays for Peter, John, and Mary, and he is also praying for you, and me.  Jesus is praying for their unity and their protection.  He is praying that they, and we, will be protected from the ‘evil one’ and from anything that would separate us from our brothers and sisters.  Jesus is praying for us! 

I wanted to include that extra verse in the gospel because it holds a powerful message.  ‘20”I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word,’    Because the thing is, we are among those who believe in Jesus through their word.  We have all come to faith through the testimony of someone else, and they in turn, through the testimony of another, and, if we work backwards, it all leads back to the disciples.  Which means that, not only was Jesus praying for the disciples, but he also prayed for you, and me, and all of us.

Sometimes, this ‘high priestly prayer’ is called the ‘other Lord’s Prayer’.  But it is not as easy to pray as the Our Father.  It is long, rambling, and also not necessarily easy to follow.  Even though the disciples are intended to overhear it, Jesus’ tone has an urgency and passion that is incredibly private.  This is not a ‘teaching moment’, this is not a ‘when you pray, pray like this’.  Jesus is pouring out his heart in this prayer.

And the thing about prayer is, it is love.  Prayer is taking the time to name the hopes, joys, concerns, fears, and thanksgiving, of yourself and of those you know.  It is taking the time to think about, to hold up to God those you care about, those ‘on your mind’, those you love, those you want/need to ask God to pay special attention to.  But, because a lot of us are not particularly comfortable with praying out loud, or praying for one another, we usually do not get the opportunity to share that love.  And when we look at this prayer that Jesus has prayed today, we see some ‘helps’ for us when we are praying.  Prayer is a chance to remind ourselves of blessing and to give thanks.  In this prayer, Jesus recognises the disciples and their fidelity [they have kept your word], and he give thanks for them.  And it can be very powerful to hear someone thanking God for you.  Prayer is also a chance to express our deep concerns, worries, and fears, and ask God for help.  Jesus expresses some powerful concerns in this prayer.  He recognises how hard it is going to be for the disciples, he admits the world will not ‘go lightly’ on them, and he does not hide these facts.  Prayer is a time to tell the truth.

I would like to stop for moment while we think about times when you have prayed for someone else.  Or when someone else has prayed for you.  How do you react to others telling you – I was praying for you last week, don’t really know why, just felt I needed to pray for you, or words to that effect. 

We are all one of those who have believed through the word of someone else.  Which means that Jesus did not stop to only pray for the disciples on this evening prior to his crucifixion, he also prayed for us.  And this is what makes it possible for us to keep trying to be faithful.  For us to admit our sins and hear and believe the absolution.  For us to care for and love each other in word, deed, and prayer.  Jesus prayed for us.  He has been praying for us ever since, and he continues to hold us in his heartfelt prayers. 

But that does not mean we will have an easy life, it does not keep us from illness or disappointment, or brokenness or loss.  And, as Jesus acknowledges, it does not remove us from the world and all the challenges, and blessings, the world holds.  But it does mean that Jesus is with us, cares for us, prays for us, loves us.  And I think that is pretty amazing.

Pray.  Love.  Because Jesus did.  For you, for me, for all of us.  Always for us.  And that makes it possible for us to do the same for others.