May 8, 2016

“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:20 -23

“Jesus’ prayer reminds us that our unity, our “oneness” is to be a sign to the world of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. Oneness and unity is about love. And if you have been a part of a family, a member of a church, or a community, you know that within that love there can be disagreements and squabbling. We are human. But the mystery of the incarnation is that God desired unity with us so much God became one of us. And in that moment we were drawn into the oneness of God, the Creator/Father/Mother, the Son, and the Spirit. It is with God’s help that we can live into that oneness. The disciples were in the time between the Ascension and the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost. We are in the time between the first and second coming of Jesus Christ. May we rejoice in the assurance that Christ is with us, continuing to pray for our oneness, our unity.” (Lucy Lind Hogan, “Commentary on John 17”, Working Preacher website)

This is one of the greatest mysteries in which we live today – knowing that Christ has ascended into heaven, and yet continues to be with us until the day we either meet Christ in heaven, or Christ returns to this world. The disciples were in a terrible way after the ascension until the day of Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit came to them, they became different people. They were changed through the power of the Holy Spirit. No longer were they hiding away in fear – instead they were preaching boldly, disobeying the religious authorities, and sustained by the spirit and each other in their endeavors to spread the message of Jesus Christ.

With the resurrection of Jesus and then the giving of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ disciples finally got the message – or at least part of it. And empowered with the Holy Spirit, they begin to build the early church, and to bring so many people to faith. They may not know as much as they will eventually know, but they’re on the right track, mostly. Yes, they’re still focused on their old thoughts of the Messiah, and the restoration of Israel – but soon they will know that G-d had something much bigger in mind.

In this time in which we are living, G-d has something much bigger in mind for you and for me as well. If we stay open to the Spirit, we will find that oneness that Jesus is praying for. And in the oneness of Jesus and Father, there is so much we can do for the kingdom of G-d.

Pastor Dave