Eastertide

June 2, 2019

Scripture Reading: John 17:20-26

‘Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’ –John 17:25-26

What does it mean when Jesus says I made your name known to them? I will not attempt to deal with what that statement might mean in the Jewish tradition in which I understand, the name of God is held in highest esteem and is afforded the respect that demands. As one who is reading one English translation of the Greek quote of Jesus, I am on fragile standing attempting to ferret out what Jesus is attempting to say in my native language. Yet this phrase intrigues me.

How did Jesus make God’s name known to Jesus’ disciples? If we accept that Jesus is God incarnate than Jesus’ very way of being was a textbook on knowing God. Jesus communed regularly with God. Does God desire to commune regularly with us? The stories told about him indicate that he never missed the subtle layers of social interactions. He knew what his disciples were about even when they did not. For example, when James and John wanted to be promoted to high authority in Jesus’ kingdom*. Jesus also treated people equally which was unheard of in first century Israel—rich and poor, men and women, aliens and natives. (It is fascinating to me that we humans who believe all humans were created by God create hierarchies of worth regarding other humans.) What do you discern about the nature of God from the life of Jesus?

When Jesus says and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’ Is he indicating that his followers’ ways of being will make God’s name known to others, if they follow Jesus’ way of being? If so, how are we doing with that?

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we fall short of following your way of being, guide us to the right path but also help those who are observing us see you more truly even through our failures. Amen.

*See Mark 10:35-45

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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.