Easter
John 17:20–26
20"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26I 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."
Normally, to eavesdrop on someone is a no-no! From our youngest years, our parents taught us that it's impolite and downright rude to listen to a conversation that was never intended for our ears. But we also know how tempting it is to listen to such a conversation! Perhaps it's the "forbidden fruit" aspect of it that intrigues us and causes us to lean forward subtly and strain our ears to take in a conversation that isn't ours!
In today's Gospel, we observe Jesus, perhaps in the Upper Room, just a few hours before he would be lifted up on the cross. As he waits for the next step in the divine plan of redemption for the world to unfold, Jesus seizes the opportunity to go to his Father in prayer. It's what we've come to call Jesus' High Priestly Prayer. And we, seeing what's taking place, ignore our parents' teaching and find ourselves eavesdropping on Jesus.
What's that he said? Who's he talking about as he prays to the Father? Can we make it out?
Who is it That Jesus Is Praying About?
At first we think it must be someone from long ago; from Jesus' time. After awhile we become uncomfortable thinking our parents were right all along; we are eavesdropping on a conversation that doesn't concern us.
Jesus begins praying for himself. (Jn. 17:4-5) "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed." He prayed for strength to go forward with the task before him; the suffering, the rejection, the abandonment of his friends, even of his Father, the cruel death.
But then, in the midst of his greatest agony, he turns his attention to his disciples; Peter, Andrew and the rest. He prays for them; that they would remain united in the faith that he had taught them and that they would carry those teachings forward to those who had not yet come to faith. (John 17:6 ESV) "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world... For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them... I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours." We continue to wonder, what business do we have listening to Jesus' prayer?
But then comes the shocker: Jesus says, "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word." That's us! Us? Yes, us! Incredibly, deep within his passion, with the cross approaching, Jesus takes time to pray also for those people who will come to faith in the future; those who would be recipients of the Gospel that was yet to be preached to them. That's us!
He prays that his truth, which he has already shared with his disciples by preaching, teaching, doing miracles, would be shared with the world; making disciples of all nations. So we have to come to grips with the fact that "the world" means us! Jesus was thinking about us some two thousand years into the future, for we are his children due to the countless faithful Christians who have presented Jesus to us using the Means of Grace in Word and Sacrament. We are included in Jesus' prayer, for we, too, have come to faith in him in our Baptism!
Now we start to get interested in what Jesus is saying. Why is Jesus praying to his Father about us? What was it that brought us into this divine conversation? We are included in his prayer because of his incredible, unfathomable, eternal love for each one of us. A love that is rooted in the perfect love within the Godhead Jn. 17:23-24 "I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am." Love is the way the Father and the Son have always interacted. This love "before the foundation of the world" is extended by God's grace to Jesus' earthly disciples regardless of the time period they live in. This is a prayer worth listening to.
In our self-centered, "me first" approach to life, we can't comprehend anyone giving of himself that much. The love of God from eternity motivated his actions to save mankind, but had we been in Jesus' position, because of our natural love only for self, our prayer would include only ourselves with no thought of anyone else. Although we cannot comprehend the breadth and depth of Jesus' love, we believe it. Even though we cannot yet know it to its fullest extent.
It is this love that gave our Lord the desire, the will to accomplish the salvation of all mankind. Nothing could or would stop him from accomplishing this. The power of the devil was not too strong for his love. The magnitude of our sins was not too great for his love. The God-man, Jesus, whom we overhear praying to the Father, would pay the price for the sins of all in the next agonizing hours. He would die and then rise three days later and the result would be the redemption of all those for whom he prayed.
Yes, Jesus' work includes us—and all people—for all time and eternity. It is rooted in eternity; it endures into eternity; it endures for all eternity.
And what is it that Jesus is praying about everyone else? He also talks about those who do not know the Father. Those who reject Christ and his word, thinking that Jesus is irrelevant or not needed. These will remain in their sin. This we may not want to overhear, but we need to. It is why Jesus is praying for them now, too, that his name would go out to all the world. He desires that no one be lost, but that all would come to be one with him. Those who have come to repentance and faith in Jesus receive the forgiveness he earned for all people on the cross.
It is in that forgiveness that eternal life is found. Eternal life is to dwell with God and share in his glory forever. We have a foretaste of this glory every time we meet together around his Word and Sacraments. The will of God, motivated by his eternal love, brings this gift to us!
As we began eavesdropping on Jesus in prayer to his Father, we first thought that this conversation had nothing to do with us. But as we continued to listen, much to our great surprise and joy, we see that we are included among all those who are the objects of his prayer. In fact, there was never really any need to eavesdrop. Jesus wants us to hear his prayer, so that we will have all the more confidence that our place by his side in heaven is secured. There, in heaven, we will share in his eternal love and glory and "will reign forever and ever."
Amen.