Jesus Prays For Our Unity

Seventh Sunday of Easter

May 12, 2013

John 17:20-26

Jesus Prays For Our Unity

In the name of Jesus.

A mother prays for her children.

She prays for their health when they are in the womb, when they are small and sick, and when they are grown up and live far away.

A mothers prays for their happiness. She prays and disciplines her children when they are rude, partly to help them from themselves as they get older. She cries out silently when her children are unpopular in the neighborhood or at school.

One of the most important things that she prays for her children is that they get along with each other. Perhaps she had a difficult relationship with her siblings and wants her kids to be there for each other, especially when they get older. Or maybe she has a great relationship with her brother and sister and wants that kind of bond for her kids.

This particular petition of mothers for their children is unique. I remember as a child praying to be healthy and happy. But it never occurred to me to pray for unity with my brothers and sister as we got older.

What kind of relationships do you have with your siblings? Are you close? Do you talk every week?

It's common (and Scriptural) that the Church talks about itself in terms of a family (e.g., the Bride of Christ, the body of Christ). Brothers and sisters in Christ, our church family, are ways in which we talk about our unity in Christ. We want this unity because Jesus wanted it and He prayed for it.

I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one—as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. (John 17:21)

The unity of the Father and the Son is mysterious. They are two equal distinct Persons, and yet They, along with the Holy Spirit, are the one true God. This is the unity Jesus prays for us to have as the Church here on earth. He's not asking for a new trinity, but He desires out of many believers, one Church. He doesn't want souls scattered, but for believers to come together, whether it is two, three, or 400 in His name.

He wants this unity for every congregation, but this togetherness is also the goal for all believers everywhere.

But how do we unite and how are we unified? I'll answer the first question with the last sentence of the sermon and answer the second question first.

First of all, we are unified because of our common problem: we are dedicated to the proposition that we are created selfish and unequal. King David cries out from experience: “All have turned away; all have become corrupt! No one does good, not a single one” (Psalm 14). When someone asks for help, we wonder how this is going affect me? How much will it cost? How much time will it take? If I help once, do I have to do it again?

Ever try to watch the best television show ever, (insert show here), while your little kids are in bed, but not asleep. That's one way in which our true dedication to self becomes easy to see, to yourself, to your spouse, and maybe to your kids (even though you try to hide the truth from them).

Secondly, by faith we are in this together because of our common Savior Jesus. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12-13)

These two things are the things found in Jesus' prayer, precisely when He prayed, “O righteous Father, the world doesn't know (ἔγνω) You, but I do; and these disciples know You sent Me” (John 17:25). The Father sent His only Son to solve our problem. Earlier in His prayer, Jesus had asked the Father to give the Church unity so that the world would know that the Father had sent Him. Jesus longed for all people to know their Savior from their sin.

Loads of people look at the Church and think that there must be something to all this. They appreciate the good the Church has done for the world in the name of their God: helping to end slavery, treating mothers and all women with respect. They know Jesus, they like Him, but they don't trust Him. They don't know Him.

On the other hand, you do. You do know Him. You don't like Him; you love Him! You fear Him because you know who you are, a wretched selfish failure. But you trust Him, body and soul, because you know, you know who He is. He's the God who—united the will of His Father—became a wretched selfish failure to buy mankind the help that it desperately needed in Galatia and Macedonia and Illyricum and Italy and into all the places of this world, where this help from God has never been heard before, not just to every geography, but to every generation. This includes you and your home, whether you live off Kimberly Road, Locust, Devil's Glen, Rockingham, or 53rd Street.

In our homes and in our church our unity in Christ is often ripped apart by our unity in sin. Kids don't show any gratitude for their moms or they only show it once a year. We fail to silently sit with women whom God has denied the privilege of motherhood. We don't mourn with those who have lost children to death.

We are a sorry sinful mess and we need help. We need Jesus. Oh, Jesus, sweet and merciful Jesus, help us! Pray for us sinners and forgive us our sin! Send us help, love, and the Bread of life!

And He does. First He sends us mothers, and then He sends us Himself. We were lying helpless by the side of the road and our Good Samaritan found us and washed and healed us (Luke 10). And now He gives us food to eat, His own true body and blood, that unites us to Him and to each other.

He's risen! He's risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.