Seventh Sunday of Easter
Text: John 17:6-19
Pastor Jean M. Hansen
On Tuesday evening I had the privilege of participating in the 36th Annual Akron-Summit Holocaust Commemoration during which area middle and high school youth received awards for visual arts and writing on the theme: “Lessons of the Holocaust: How Hatred Turns to Violence”. There also were various speakers from the city and county, and a presentation by an author who has written about her parents’ experience as Holocaust survivors. More than once the statement was made that to keep horrible events like the Holocaust of World War II from occurring again, education is required so that people (youth) develop insight and courage to identify such evil and stand against it.
When I arrived home that evening and began studying for this sermon, these words of Jesus captured my attention: “I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.” The “you” in that verse is God, the “them” is followers of Jesus and the point is that those who belong to Jesus are separate from “the world”, but still must continue to do ministry in it. I’ll focus more on that later, but first let’s look at the context for today’s text.
This passage sometimes is called the “high priestly prayer”; it is Jesus’ prayer for his closest followers just before his crucifixion. He knew that what would soon happen would threaten their security, safety and well-being; his words of encouragement, assurance and love in the previous chapters of John might not be enough. So, Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed for his loved ones.
The prayer is a reminder that Jesus had made God’s name known to them, given them God’s words, taught them God’s ways and demonstrated how to make God’s presence evident in the world. All of this placed them at odds with the powers of their day. He used the phrase, “they do not belong to the world” of his followers, which creates some discomfort for us because of the us/them dichotomy it creates. But, that discomfort should be lessened by this definition of “the world” given by commentator Veronice Miles.
“In this respect “the world” refers to principalities and powers, whether civil, religious or socio-cultural that promote and propagate division, hatred, discord, or other attitudes and practices that are inimical to Jesus’ ministerial vision. Those who have come to know Jesus are not “of” the world because their worldview or view of what can and ought to be originates from Jesus’ vision of a world in which love reigns supreme.” (1)
Given the challenge of “the world”, in his prayer, Jesus made four requests for his followers. 1. That God would protect them from division, so they will remain one in heart, purpose and intent. 2. That the joy he has known will be made complete in those who know him. In other words, that they will experience such joy, such fulfillment in doing ministry in Jesus’ name that worldly enticements will not influence them. 3. That God would protect them from the “evil one”, which is the embodiment of all that is opposed to God. 4. That God would set them apart for the work of ministry and empower them to bear witness to the word of truth.
These requests of Jesus are not just for his first followers but for us too. They are vital if we are to develop the insight and courage needed to challenge the hate, prejudice, fear, resentment and self-focus that led to the Holocaust and all tragedies like it.
One of the points made by author Jeannette Grunhaus de Gelman during her presentation at the commemoration on Tuesday was that her parents survived the Holocaust, indeed were the only ones in their immediate families to do so, because of the help they received from people – non-Jews - who did things like providing false papers with Aryan names, hiding them in their homes or on their farms and providing secret transport in loaded wagons, all at great personal risk.
I’m sure most of us have heard such accounts, and perhaps you have asked yourself, as I have, what you would have done in a similar situation. While we ask that question looking back, it also is important that we ask it looking forward. We all are called by God and filled with the Holy Spirit to be agents of change. Just as was true of those first followers of Jesus, we do not belong to the world, in the sense that we are not – or should not be – a part of that which promotes division, hatred, discord or is contrary to the worldview given to us by Jesus.
Read any reputable newspaper or listen to any unbiased news broadcast and it will soon become apparent that there are multiple reasons “the world” must be challenged by the word of truth that Jesus gave us, a word of acceptance, integrity, mercy and hope. We need insight and courage int order to act, both of which require educating ourselves about what constitutes “the world” which we oppose and the “the word” that we promote.
I recently read a portion of sermon that was given by commentator Scott Hoezee on the Sunday following the attacks of 9/11/2001. He invited the young people in grades 5-12 forward and had them stand around the baptism font. This is what he said: “It’s a rough world. So, I urge you, young people of this church, in view of God’s mercies to you, not to conform to the roughness of this world, not to go with the flow of anger and revenge, but to be transformed from the inside out. Return every day to the love of God in Jesus that scooped you up at this baptismal font some years ago. Rest secure in that love. And then let it help you be loving too. Let that love motivate you to do the hard work of figuring out what God wants out of us Christian people. Let love, not hate; good, not evil; guide you until that day when the love and goodness of Jesus is all in all…go forward with courage, know that our world belongs to God and so do you.” (2)
Never forget; we are in the world, but not of the world, which to me means not that we isolate ourselves or feel superior, but that we draw on the power of the Holy Spirit and are united in purpose and intent to challenge that which is opposed to God’s grace-filled will and ways.
My task on Tuesday was to give the benediction, so I’ll close my sermon today with the blessing I offered, thinking especially of the youth who are developing insight and courage needed to identify evil and stand against it.
May the words of the Psalmist, that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, bring assurance to your hearts during times of challenge, and empower you to be an agent of change.
May you always recall that the Lord is good, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness that endures forever, from generation to generation.
And, as the blessing of the Lord, given to Moses and Aaron, and passed on to us proclaims: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord’s face be made to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord’s countenance be lifted upon you, and give you peace, both now and forever. AMEN
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“Commentary on John 17:6-19” by Veronice Miles, www.workingpreacher.org
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“Commentary on John 17:6-19” by Scott Hoezee, May 10, 2021, www.cepreaching.org