A Time Between Time
Sermon
The View from the Cross
Cycle B Gospel Text Sermons for Lent and Easter
Object:
Today is the last in the season of Eastertide. It has been a wonderful and faith-filled journey as we have traveled from Ash Wednesday through to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. We have participated in a sacred meal, walked the road to Calvary, and been witnesses to the resurrection. It is fitting that today we find our Lord offering an intercessory prayer for his followers.
Luke's gospel tells us that Jesus prayed for his disciples before he even chose them (Luke 6:12), during the time of his active ministry (John 6:12), at the end of his earthly ministry (Luke 22:32). The prayer of intersession found in our reading for today reveals Jesus' loving concern for his apostles.
In the gospel lesson for this day, Jesus prays, and his prayer to God is, "Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them -- all those you have given me -- so that they will be united just as we are" (John 17:11 NLT). Jesus goes on, "And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy" (John 17:13 NLT), and finally, "And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours" (John 17:19 NLT). Jesus' prayer is that the disciples will stay together, that they will find joy in that unity, and consecration will be the result. This united, joyful, consecrated group of disciples will be sent into the world just the way Jesus went into the world. They are the end result of his ministry and the means of his future ministry in the world.
There is an ancient legend that tells of Jesus' ascension into heaven. He is met by the angel Gabriel who asks him, "Now that your work is finished, what plans have you made to insure that the truth you brought to earth will spread throughout the world?"
Jesus answered, "I called some fishermen and tax-collectors to walk along with me as I did my Father's will."
"Yes, I know about them," said Gabriel, "but what other plans have you made?"
Jesus replied, "I taught Peter, James, and John about the kingdom of God; I taught Thomas about faith; and all of them were with me as I healed and preached to the multitudes."
Gabriel began to lose patience. "Really now, all this is well and good, but surely you must have other plans to make sure your work was not in vain."
Jesus fixed Gabriel with a steady gaze and said with finality, "I have no other plans. I am depending on them!"
I wish that I was the one with whom Jesus could always depend but I fear that I am not that strong. I know that I am in need of prayer and I am sure that we all find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross wondering if we would have the courage to even be seen in that place.
Talk about needing help, I think it is fair to say we all do. It is into this kind of human weakness that Jesus offers this wonderful intercessory prayer. And I say into this kind of human weakness because the disciples were after all just human beings with the same kind of frail dispositions that we all possess. Jesus said he was depending on the disciples. He was depending on them to spread the message of love, mercy, and compassion to the entire world. He was depending on them to follow the instructions he gave them when he said in Matthew's gospel, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19 NLT). It is clear that Jesus was depending on the disciples but he would not leave them alone, for he promised them a helper, one who would come in power to give them the needed power to spread his message. Suffice it to say they had no hope without that helper. The disciples knew all of this and they also knew that without Jesus' presence and prayers they would be doomed!
In the church year today is a day of waiting, a time for reflection, a time to stop, to ponder, to listen, to pray, to feel, to experience, to wait, and to wonder.
In the sequence of things, last Thursday was Ascension Day, the day Jesus rose into heaven, and next Sunday is Pentecost, the day when Jesus' Holy Spirit visits the disciples with power. That power birthed what we know as the church of Jesus Christ. This is a time when we as a church are sort of between times.
In a real way the disciples had been separated out of the world. To highlight how important the idea of telling the world about Jesus, the word "world" is used eighteen times in this chapter! The disciples had been chosen to do this work of love and this separation was not by mistake. On the contrary it was by election of the Father, in which the apostles had been given as a gift to Jesus, "However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them" (John 6:37 NLT). The disciples were not perfect, but they had what we would call "the right stuff." Their faith in Jesus was based upon the trust that existed between Jesus and God the Father. This faith was made complete in their obedience to Jesus' words because they believed in his divine mission. Having said that, I imagine the disciples felt frightened, alone, insecure, amazed, and perplexed all at the same time, how human!
They had just seen Jesus rise into heaven. They had just seen their friend, their teacher, their Lord go away from them. This was a glorious event, for now they were certain that Jesus was with the Father, now they knew for sure that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Now they knew for sure that Jesus and the Father were really one.
On the other hand, now they were alone, now they were without their friend, without their leader, without their companion. Although they were reassured they were also in a kind of limbo. They were sure that Jesus was who he claimed to be but not at all sure about exactly what it was they were to do now. They were in a between times time, almost like being in a dream state, not quite real but real enough that they could not go back to sleep. It was an awkward time for them as they tried to piece together all that Jesus had taught them these past months and years.
Jesus knew that the disciples would now need to step out on their own. He also knew that being alone in ministry for the first time they were going to need help. He had taught them to pray and was now in this prayer asking God to be with them and to give them the courage and perseverance needed in the trying times they would face. It is appropriate that we look at this prayer and keep it in context. Because if the disciples were to think about this text, if they could recall this conservation with Jesus, if they could remember these words, this in between time wouldn't seem so frightening, nor would they seem so alone.
This was Jesus' high priestly prayer. Jesus knew that the hostility against God that had fallen on him would now fall on them. Jesus prayed that God will protect them from those who would do them harm. He prayed for their preservation to promote the unity of the disciples knowing how easy it would be for them to fall into disarray.
It would have been so easy for the disciples to forget all that Jesus had taught them. It would have been easy to say: "Well back to the fishing boats, it's all over. It was good while it lasted, but Jesus is gone, we are alone, there is nothing more for us to do, let's go back to something we know, something with security, something familiar." It would have been very easy for the disciples to have thought this way and who could have blamed them? But if they could remember this prayer of Jesus, they would of have the power, the strength, and the encouragement to wait, to stay in Jerusalem for the coming of the Spirit.
Jesus says, "Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them -- all those you have given me -- so that they will be united just as we are" (John 17:11 NLT).
Jesus wanted the disciples to have faith, to remain true to the Father, to believe in the promises and teaching he had given them. Jesus knew that in a little while after his ascension, the disciples would have the needed power of the spirit to carry on with his work, so he prays that they would remain true and faithful.
It is like the story of a sailboat that bobbed up and down in the waves as the wind made the trees sway back and forth. The sailboat was clean and smooth, yet it hovered helplessly next to the dock.
The sails danced playfully in the power of the wind, but the boat did not move. Other ships cut across the lake using the wind's silent grace but the boat at the dock did not move. Its sails shook in the wasted breeze. Its hardware rattled and banged with eagerness to be used but the ship drifted helplessly in the windswept water.
All the power was at hand, the wind drenched the boat with its force. The boat was ready but the boat did not move because the person at the tiller did not have the wisdom to use the power and equipment that was available. He did not have the knowledge to set the rigging and did not even know how to direct the craft to receive all the glorious power around it.
The disciples had all the power from Jesus. They had the mission spelled out, they had the tools at hand but they didn't know how to use them yet. They didn't know how to set sail. Once again we see just how like all of us the disciples actually were. The more we look at their lives the more we can see that they were regular folks living in very confusing circumstances.
Remember we always look at biblical history from the side of what has already taken place. They on the other hand do not know what is about to happen. They cannot open their Bibles and see what we can see. They needed what we will celebrate next week and that is the Day of Pentecost. They needed the guidance of the Spirit; they needed the power of the Spirit to get their boat sailing into the wind. Jesus prayed that while they waited for all this, they would be drawn together in one cohesive group and grow strong as they waited to get started in their mission, that they would not lose faith, but they would remain in the Father.
When looked at in its totality, this prayer is really a threefold prayer. Jesus' prayer is, "Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them -- all those you have given me -- so that they will be united just as we are" (John 17:11). "And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy" (John 17:13) "And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours" (John 17:19). That is to say, Jesus' prayer is for their unity, joy, and consecration.
This is the outcome that Jesus desires to see God produce in this the fellowship of believers we call the apostles. It is none other than the unity that exists in the Father and the Son, the joy the Son himself has in the love of the Father, and the consecration that comes through knowing the Son who is the truth. This united, joyful, consecrated group is to be sent forth into the world even as Jesus was sent into the world. It is the product of his ministry and the means of his future ministry, through which Jesus himself is to do the greater works.
There is something we can learn from this text and sequence of events, too. Jesus also prays for us to remain in the faith as we face the in between times of our lives.
Like the disciples there are many times when you and I are not quite sure of our faith, not quite sure what is going to happen next, not quite sure what the future is going to hold for us. It is appropriate for us to know that even when we are confused, even if we don't know what is going to happen, even if we cannot get our boat sailing, we still have a relationship with Jesus. We still have faith. We can cling to his promises and we can rely on his redemption in our lives. We might feel in between but Jesus is still there for us to fill in the gaps.
In this in-between time for the disciples, Jesus' words are directing them to the Father's words, to the Father's teaching, to Jesus' teaching to make them holy. It gives them something to turn to, gives them something to rely on, and it gives them something on which to hold. As we face our in-between times, and also our everyday living, we know that Jesus is praying for us to remain in faith and remain in the truth of God's word.
We thank him for those prayers and we pray that he will give us the power to be faithful to him and to his words as we look forward to the Day of Pentecost, another day of celebration and hope! Amen.
Luke's gospel tells us that Jesus prayed for his disciples before he even chose them (Luke 6:12), during the time of his active ministry (John 6:12), at the end of his earthly ministry (Luke 22:32). The prayer of intersession found in our reading for today reveals Jesus' loving concern for his apostles.
In the gospel lesson for this day, Jesus prays, and his prayer to God is, "Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them -- all those you have given me -- so that they will be united just as we are" (John 17:11 NLT). Jesus goes on, "And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy" (John 17:13 NLT), and finally, "And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours" (John 17:19 NLT). Jesus' prayer is that the disciples will stay together, that they will find joy in that unity, and consecration will be the result. This united, joyful, consecrated group of disciples will be sent into the world just the way Jesus went into the world. They are the end result of his ministry and the means of his future ministry in the world.
There is an ancient legend that tells of Jesus' ascension into heaven. He is met by the angel Gabriel who asks him, "Now that your work is finished, what plans have you made to insure that the truth you brought to earth will spread throughout the world?"
Jesus answered, "I called some fishermen and tax-collectors to walk along with me as I did my Father's will."
"Yes, I know about them," said Gabriel, "but what other plans have you made?"
Jesus replied, "I taught Peter, James, and John about the kingdom of God; I taught Thomas about faith; and all of them were with me as I healed and preached to the multitudes."
Gabriel began to lose patience. "Really now, all this is well and good, but surely you must have other plans to make sure your work was not in vain."
Jesus fixed Gabriel with a steady gaze and said with finality, "I have no other plans. I am depending on them!"
I wish that I was the one with whom Jesus could always depend but I fear that I am not that strong. I know that I am in need of prayer and I am sure that we all find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross wondering if we would have the courage to even be seen in that place.
Talk about needing help, I think it is fair to say we all do. It is into this kind of human weakness that Jesus offers this wonderful intercessory prayer. And I say into this kind of human weakness because the disciples were after all just human beings with the same kind of frail dispositions that we all possess. Jesus said he was depending on the disciples. He was depending on them to spread the message of love, mercy, and compassion to the entire world. He was depending on them to follow the instructions he gave them when he said in Matthew's gospel, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19 NLT). It is clear that Jesus was depending on the disciples but he would not leave them alone, for he promised them a helper, one who would come in power to give them the needed power to spread his message. Suffice it to say they had no hope without that helper. The disciples knew all of this and they also knew that without Jesus' presence and prayers they would be doomed!
In the church year today is a day of waiting, a time for reflection, a time to stop, to ponder, to listen, to pray, to feel, to experience, to wait, and to wonder.
In the sequence of things, last Thursday was Ascension Day, the day Jesus rose into heaven, and next Sunday is Pentecost, the day when Jesus' Holy Spirit visits the disciples with power. That power birthed what we know as the church of Jesus Christ. This is a time when we as a church are sort of between times.
In a real way the disciples had been separated out of the world. To highlight how important the idea of telling the world about Jesus, the word "world" is used eighteen times in this chapter! The disciples had been chosen to do this work of love and this separation was not by mistake. On the contrary it was by election of the Father, in which the apostles had been given as a gift to Jesus, "However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them" (John 6:37 NLT). The disciples were not perfect, but they had what we would call "the right stuff." Their faith in Jesus was based upon the trust that existed between Jesus and God the Father. This faith was made complete in their obedience to Jesus' words because they believed in his divine mission. Having said that, I imagine the disciples felt frightened, alone, insecure, amazed, and perplexed all at the same time, how human!
They had just seen Jesus rise into heaven. They had just seen their friend, their teacher, their Lord go away from them. This was a glorious event, for now they were certain that Jesus was with the Father, now they knew for sure that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Now they knew for sure that Jesus and the Father were really one.
On the other hand, now they were alone, now they were without their friend, without their leader, without their companion. Although they were reassured they were also in a kind of limbo. They were sure that Jesus was who he claimed to be but not at all sure about exactly what it was they were to do now. They were in a between times time, almost like being in a dream state, not quite real but real enough that they could not go back to sleep. It was an awkward time for them as they tried to piece together all that Jesus had taught them these past months and years.
Jesus knew that the disciples would now need to step out on their own. He also knew that being alone in ministry for the first time they were going to need help. He had taught them to pray and was now in this prayer asking God to be with them and to give them the courage and perseverance needed in the trying times they would face. It is appropriate that we look at this prayer and keep it in context. Because if the disciples were to think about this text, if they could recall this conservation with Jesus, if they could remember these words, this in between time wouldn't seem so frightening, nor would they seem so alone.
This was Jesus' high priestly prayer. Jesus knew that the hostility against God that had fallen on him would now fall on them. Jesus prayed that God will protect them from those who would do them harm. He prayed for their preservation to promote the unity of the disciples knowing how easy it would be for them to fall into disarray.
It would have been so easy for the disciples to forget all that Jesus had taught them. It would have been easy to say: "Well back to the fishing boats, it's all over. It was good while it lasted, but Jesus is gone, we are alone, there is nothing more for us to do, let's go back to something we know, something with security, something familiar." It would have been very easy for the disciples to have thought this way and who could have blamed them? But if they could remember this prayer of Jesus, they would of have the power, the strength, and the encouragement to wait, to stay in Jerusalem for the coming of the Spirit.
Jesus says, "Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them -- all those you have given me -- so that they will be united just as we are" (John 17:11 NLT).
Jesus wanted the disciples to have faith, to remain true to the Father, to believe in the promises and teaching he had given them. Jesus knew that in a little while after his ascension, the disciples would have the needed power of the spirit to carry on with his work, so he prays that they would remain true and faithful.
It is like the story of a sailboat that bobbed up and down in the waves as the wind made the trees sway back and forth. The sailboat was clean and smooth, yet it hovered helplessly next to the dock.
The sails danced playfully in the power of the wind, but the boat did not move. Other ships cut across the lake using the wind's silent grace but the boat at the dock did not move. Its sails shook in the wasted breeze. Its hardware rattled and banged with eagerness to be used but the ship drifted helplessly in the windswept water.
All the power was at hand, the wind drenched the boat with its force. The boat was ready but the boat did not move because the person at the tiller did not have the wisdom to use the power and equipment that was available. He did not have the knowledge to set the rigging and did not even know how to direct the craft to receive all the glorious power around it.
The disciples had all the power from Jesus. They had the mission spelled out, they had the tools at hand but they didn't know how to use them yet. They didn't know how to set sail. Once again we see just how like all of us the disciples actually were. The more we look at their lives the more we can see that they were regular folks living in very confusing circumstances.
Remember we always look at biblical history from the side of what has already taken place. They on the other hand do not know what is about to happen. They cannot open their Bibles and see what we can see. They needed what we will celebrate next week and that is the Day of Pentecost. They needed the guidance of the Spirit; they needed the power of the Spirit to get their boat sailing into the wind. Jesus prayed that while they waited for all this, they would be drawn together in one cohesive group and grow strong as they waited to get started in their mission, that they would not lose faith, but they would remain in the Father.
When looked at in its totality, this prayer is really a threefold prayer. Jesus' prayer is, "Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them -- all those you have given me -- so that they will be united just as we are" (John 17:11). "And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy" (John 17:13) "And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours" (John 17:19). That is to say, Jesus' prayer is for their unity, joy, and consecration.
This is the outcome that Jesus desires to see God produce in this the fellowship of believers we call the apostles. It is none other than the unity that exists in the Father and the Son, the joy the Son himself has in the love of the Father, and the consecration that comes through knowing the Son who is the truth. This united, joyful, consecrated group is to be sent forth into the world even as Jesus was sent into the world. It is the product of his ministry and the means of his future ministry, through which Jesus himself is to do the greater works.
There is something we can learn from this text and sequence of events, too. Jesus also prays for us to remain in the faith as we face the in between times of our lives.
Like the disciples there are many times when you and I are not quite sure of our faith, not quite sure what is going to happen next, not quite sure what the future is going to hold for us. It is appropriate for us to know that even when we are confused, even if we don't know what is going to happen, even if we cannot get our boat sailing, we still have a relationship with Jesus. We still have faith. We can cling to his promises and we can rely on his redemption in our lives. We might feel in between but Jesus is still there for us to fill in the gaps.
In this in-between time for the disciples, Jesus' words are directing them to the Father's words, to the Father's teaching, to Jesus' teaching to make them holy. It gives them something to turn to, gives them something to rely on, and it gives them something on which to hold. As we face our in-between times, and also our everyday living, we know that Jesus is praying for us to remain in faith and remain in the truth of God's word.
We thank him for those prayers and we pray that he will give us the power to be faithful to him and to his words as we look forward to the Day of Pentecost, another day of celebration and hope! Amen.
