June 1 2025 Easter 7
Acts 16.16-34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22.12-22; John 17.20-26
You could be forgiven for being a little confused trying to make sense of this passage from John’s gospel. Scholars and historians may refer to it as ‘Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer’, but that does not stop it from sounding like a ‘word salad’. Our modern brains and contemporary contexts make it difficult to follow its structure or understand its layered intricacies.
If we listen carefully to the first sentence in this passage, we can hear Jesus praying for us. ‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word”. This passage is the end of Jesus’ ‘farewell discourse’, Jesus has given the disciples lots of instruction and guidance on how to live ‘after’, and now he is praying for them. He prays that they may be able to withstand all the challenges that come their way; that they may discover strength in their togetherness; that they may be drawn together in the same way as Jesus and the heavenly Father are one. And he prays not only for them, but for all who will come to believe in Jesus because of their testimony. And that means you and me.
You and I are here today because someone, at some point in our past, has told us about Jesus. Be that from infanthood, or maybe even just last week, but someone, somewhere, has shared the story of Jesus with us and that experience has invited us to come here today to experience more. And, when you think about it, that means that we can trace our ‘knowing’ back to the disciples because the person who told us, was told by someone, who was told by someone…. right back to this night we have read about.
Often, we may look at Scripture as nice stories about people who lived many hundreds of years ago, and we struggle to see the relevance for our lives here today. Well, in John’s gospel we occasionally find ‘doorways’ that invite us into the story so that we can become active participants in the ongoing drama of God’s love for the world. A few weeks ago, in Jesus’ encounter with Thomas we had one of those doorways as Jesus blessed all those who believed in him even though they had not seen him. Which included John’s community, but it also included you and me. And now we find another doorway as we listen to Jesus speaking on this significant night; as he takes the time from all the other things he was doing and saying to pray, not only for the disciples, but for you and for me.
This week, in amongst all the things that will occur around you and to you, all the challenges you will face in your work/home/school lives, what difference will Jesus’ praying for you make for you. This prayer is our invitation to remember that - no matter what we may face, we are not facing it alone because Jesus prayed for you back then and he has promised to accompany you through the Holy Spirit, even now.
So, I invite you to take a moment and think about the challenges you are facing at the moment; where do you need to be ‘drawn as one’; where do you need to have peace in your life. Now imagine that Jesus is praying for you, now, and that he is praying for all of us. Listen quietly as Jesus prays for you and hear the words; feel the strength that that prayer gives you, feel the peace flowing into you and through you.
On the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus prayed for you. And Jesus continues to accompany you on your life journey. Jesus will be with you through all the joys and hardships, through all the celebrations and struggles you will encounter, and Jesus will hold on to you through death to new life. This is the promise of resurrection, and it is a promise we need to hear now, and we need to hear it often.