April 1, 2021
John 17:25-26, “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Jesus does something cool here that is easy to miss. He says that he has made known the name of the Father, but Jesus claims he will “continue to make it known,” even though he knows he’s about to go to the cross. Jesus will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, continue to illuminate the name of God to a watching world. Jesus has mentioned plenty of things here that they (the world) will see, but he closes his prayer with this one: that they will see love of God. First, it’s extraordinary to capture just how pro-Trinitarian this whole final section of John has been, in Christ’s high priestly prayer. He shares this message with the Father and the Spirit - they are each acknowledged as God, with power and authority, yet with distinct roles. And secondly, Jesus’ closing statements in prayer are a recapitulation of sorts of the Great Commission at the end of the gospel of Matthew. “I will be with you,” Jesus says there - he will be with the believers by the presence of the Holy Spirit, and he promises to be with us “always, even to the end of the age (Mt. 28:18-20).” If this is true, then we take on this very challenge into the church. We are the ones sharing the love of God with others - we are the illuminating ones, to carry about the name of God in the world.
What does this mean for the church? We are all of these things to folks in the church and to the lost: we are friends, champions of hospitality, service, worship, and witness to the truth of Christ. Your life is to be shared with others - share what you have, your resources, your time, and your heart - out of love for your neighbor. This time of Covid has seen these opportunities disappear, and it really shouldn’t have shut them down completely - even if it did shift what was possible. It’s time to recapture these practices in your life - even as you stay safe and respect the wishes of your neighbor - be creative, be bold, and don’t put yourself first - share the love of God - the selfless, other-centered love that you see in Christ.
Prayer: Lord, help me to know when I am truly loving my neighbor or when I am just protecting myself. Help me to the see the boldness that came before me in generations past, particularly in times of pandemic. Help me to balance what is wise and good and what is bold for the sake of your kingdom, that people would not be isolated but loved, that I wouldn’t operate out of fear but out of trust in you. Amen.
40 Days of Joy: Meals Together. Is there anything better than a great meal had with friends? I love this universal, selfless human activity.
