Eastertide
May 16, 2015

Scripture Reading: John 17:6-19

I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. –John 17:9-12

Jesus’ prayer is poignant. He obviously loves his disciples as God loves them, what the Greeks call agape love, but this prayer has a sense of brotherly love in it, the love one sibling has for another. Jesus knows he is releasing these dear people into the world to face it as he has faced it. Historically, we know that the only one that was not lost (the word also could be translated killed or perished) because of their connection to him was John, perhaps the writer of this gospel.

The only disciple that died before Jesus died was, of course, Judas. I fear that the translation of the Greek word apollumi as “lost” calls forth our vision of judgement for Judas more than it recognizes him as one of Jesus’ disciples. In this prayer, Jesus describes Judas as a part of a greater plan. Chronologically this prayer occurs in the gospel of John before the betrayal.

It seems to me that God works most often through the normal aspects of life: weddings where the wine runs out, enough food for all, the return of mental stability, healing at the touch of a garment’s hem. It is a paradox but it seems to be a truth also that God does have a master plan that orders life even in the midst of what appears to be chaos. Paul may have said it best, In Romans 8:28: We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Prayer: Lord, the world continues in chaos to this day. Draw us near to you so that we may not fear what we do not understand but grant us your spirit so that we know you have our backs. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.