The consensus of Bible commentaries is that the main point of this passage is unity. I, of course, had picked up on the verse about "knowing," when I chose the sermon title, so I was stuck with it! It turned out to be an ok sermon from my perspective. I had not thought about a red-letter Bible in a long time, and I had not heard about a blue-letter Bible until I was reading about the red-letter one. It was kind of fun to include that in the introduction.
“Knowing” June 1, 2025; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church; John 17: 20-26
20 “I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,[a] so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.”
Introduction: Back in the day before people read their Bible from their favorite app or website on their phone or iPad (guilty!), they had what they called red letter Bibles. Some of you probably remember those, maybe even have one in the pew with you.
A red letter Bible is not to be confused with the newer, cutting edge blue letter Bible. Yes, that’s a thing. An app wiht the Bible that has links to study helps; the hyper links are in blue, so it’s known as the Blue Letter bible https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Letter_Bible#:~:text=)
but back to the old-fashioned red letter Bible,. it is called that because all the words attributed to Jesus are highlighted in red.
if you were to read Chapter 17 in a red-letter Bible, it would all be in red
All Jesus’ words.
Not just Jesus’ spoken words, but the words Jesus prays.
Go back a couple of chapters leading into chapter 17, Chapters 14-16 Jesus speaking ot the community,
but Chapter 17 switches to a prayer.
in fact, It is the longest prayer Jesus prays in the gospels.
Jesus’ prayer is a little bit more complicated than, “Now I lay me down to sleep…”
David Lose notes: The prayer is complex enough, even convoluted enough, that we can forget that it is a prayer. Indeed, we call it the “high priestly prayer” because it is not only intense, but also at portions – including in this reading – rather theologically dense. (David Lose, https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/the-power-of-being-prayed-for)
as we reflect on these words, this prayer of Jesus this morning, do not forget it is a prayer - the words offered up to God like we offer up prayers - full of hope, maybe words revealing our vulnerabilities,
words of prayer that express our greatest desires from the God who hears our prayers.
So Stop here for a moment and consider this question:
If you knew your time was coming to an end and you were going to say a prayer - what words would you pray?
That’s what we read in this passage - Jesus praying as he knows his time on earth is drawing to a close.
Move 1: Several powerful themes in this prayer
certainly we see Jesus’ desire for unity
but as I read this prayer recently, I was struck by Jesus’ Prayer for us to know him, and in knowing him, knowing God.
a. Jesus is not praying for us to have some book knowledge.
1. He does not pray that somehow we understand the Trinity in theory,
or be able to explain the resurrection,
or give the details of how the virgin birth happened.
2. Jesus simply prays that we know him.
maybe to have some type of relationship with him
or know that Jesus has met some need we have
or that we have some encounter with Jesus which leads us to claim him as our Lord and savior.
3. to know Jesus is not an answer to a quiz about jesus, but to experience the difference Jesus makes in your life.
b. then Jesus prays that to know Christ is to know God.
1.The world may not know God, but if we know Jesus, then we know God.
2. Jesus wants to make it simple for us.
notice, I said simple, not easy!
But simple in that if we know jesus, we know God.
3. We often speak in terms of looking for God,
or seeking God,
or some grand pursuit of God that seems like and impossible task.
But hear again Jesus’ words: the world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.”
4. To know Jesus is to know God and to know God’s love.
Move 2: How do you know if you know?
a. I am reminded of a story told about former President George H.W. Bush. He was campaigning for president, he made a stop at a North Carolina nursing home. When he came upon an elderly gentleman bent over in his wheelchair, Bush leaned over to ask: “sir, Do you know who I am?” the man looked up and said, “No, but if you go to the nurses’ station, they can tell you.” Peter W. Marty, Christian Century, 1/18/2017, “From the Publisher, 3”
b. "As far as I know, there is only one good reason for believing that he was who he said he was. One of the crooks he was strung up with put it this way: 'If you are the Christ, save yourself and us' (Luke 23:39). Save us from whatever we need most to be saved from. Save us from each other. Save us from ourselves. Save us from death both beyond the grave and before. If he is, he can. If he isn't, he can't.
1. to know Jesus means experiencing how God is changing your life.
2. To know Jesus means feeling that life-giving, life-saving grace God’s love offers to us.
c. . But Buechner goes on to note: [that the only way we may know Jesus] It may be that the only way in the world to find out is to give him the chance, whatever that involves. It may be just as simple and just as complicated as that.” (sermon discussion from Frederick Buechner, Frederick Buechner Blog.)If your life i
1. to know Jesus is to risk believing that he will be at work in your life and your world.
2. that’s what we see in the Story we read in Acts.
the jailer deciding to risk knowing Jesus.
3. Powerful story - Paul and Silas changing lives in the name of Jesus Christ.
3. Paul has cast the evil spirit out of the young woman,
changed her life
although admittedly it seems more from selfish reasons than discipleship reasons.
nevertheless, they know Jesus and in his name they change her life.
4. . They get thrown in jail.
5. They pray.
like Jesus, they understand the power and I,pittance of prayer.
6. The jailer hears them and sees what knowing Jesus is doing on their lives,
so he decides to take a risk
to risk his life by giving himself over to the one Paul and Silas knows, Jesus Christ.
3. and his life was never the same again.
Conclusion: At the communion table, we often invite people to come and “Meet the risen Christ.”
I somehow doubt we will see the Risen Christ in person waiting to hug you or shake your hand as you come forward this morning.
But you come because you know him,
or you want to know him
or you want to know him better.
and in knowing him, you know God.
No comments:
Post a Comment