Past Sermons |
8th May 2005 |
Letting Him Win
John 17:1-11
Our Gospel lesson this morning comes at the conclusion of Jesus' time with the disciples in the Upper Room. He has washed their feet, shared a last supper with them, taught them the "new commandment" to love one another.
And now, before he leaves for the Garden of Gethsemane and his subsequent arrest, trial, and crucifixion, he prays for his disciples. His words take on a pleading tone as he prays for the Father to protect them - praying:
"For I'm no longer going to be visible in the world; they'll continue in the world while I return to you. Holy Father, GUARD THEM as they pursue this life that you conferred as a gift through me, so they can be one heart and mind."
Those words suggest how difficult it must have been for Jesus to leave the disciples. He had lived with them and led them for three years. He had tried to teach them everything that they would need to know, but for the most part they had not understood.
After his death, Jesus would need them to carry on his work, and there was no hint thus far that they would be able to do that.
But what really hit me as I read this prayer was how much Jesus loved the disciples and wanted the best for them.
He was going to leave them -- and it was wrenching for him to do so. And so he prayed, "Holy Father, GUARD THEM!"
Any parent who has said goodbye to a son or daughter -- especially if that son or daughter were going off to war -- can imagine Jesus' deep feelings for the disciples as he prays God's protection for them.
When I read this prayer, it reminded me of the poignant ending of the classic movie, "East of Eden." In that movie, James Dean plays Cal, a young man tortured by feeling unworthy-- always suffering by comparison with his too-perfect brother. All his life Cal has tried desperately to please his father, but his father has seldom been pleased.
At the end of the movie, Cal's father has had a stroke, and is dying. Cal is there with Abra, the young woman who loves him. Also present is a nurse, a truly irritating woman who breezes in and out -- acting as if nothing is wrong -- more concerned for her own comfort than for the father's welfare.
In the next-to-last scene, Abra is alone with Cal's father, who lies in bed staring vacantly straight ahead. She pleads with the father to help Cal. She tells him how awful it is not to be loved, and tells him that is how Cal has felt all his life.
She pleads with the father to give Cal some sign that he loves him. Otherwise, she says, Cal will never be a man. She pleads for the father to help Cal -- to make him whole.
She says, "If you could ask him for something -- let him help you so that he knows that you love him -- let him do for you."
Then, in the last scene, Cal is with his father as Abra listens across the room. You can see the father try desperately to talk -- struggle to get the words out. He finally manages to say, "Cal, do something for me."
Cal says, "Yes."
The father says, "That woman -- the nurse. Can't stand her -- get rid of her."
Tears in his eyes, Cal says, "I can't stand her neither."
The father tries to speak again, but his voice is so faint that we can't hear. Cal holds his ear near his father's mouth to catch his words -- and weeps as he listens -- and then stands and goes to Abra, who asks, "What did he say?"
Cal answers, "He said, 'Don't get anybody else.' He said, 'You stay with me. You take care of me.' "
And so the son is redeemed -- is saved. The father, perhaps with his last words, has given his son what he needed all his life -- has given him love -- has shown him approval -- has made him whole.
That scene is painful to watch for some men - men who have never received their father's approval. The scene drips with passion -- from Cal's painful need for approval -- to Abra's desperate plea on Cal's behalf -- to the father's struggle to form the words that will free his son.
I mention that scene, because it expresses the kind of passion that I find in Jesus' prayer just before his death. Jesus prays: "For I'm no longer going to be visible in the world; they'll continue in the world while I return to you. Holy Father, GUARD THEM!"
"Holy Father, GUARD THEM!" Jesus is leaving his disciples. He will no longer be there to guide and support them. This is his passionate prayer in their behalf -- and in our behalf, too, as Jesus' prayer later makes clear. He prays not only for them but for us.
We are tempted to read Jesus' prayer as we would read a newspaper -- with no emotion -- with flat affect -- with little power.
We may even be tempted to imagine Jesus praying as we sometimes pray -- just saying words that we have said a thousand times -- saying them with no heart-felt emotion.
But Luke records Jesus figuratively sweating drops of blood as he prayed in the garden (Luke 22:44), and I think that it was like he was sweating drops of blood as he prayed for his disciples in our passage this morning. It is a prayer in which he shows how much he loves his disciples -- AND how much he loves us.
It is important to remember that Jesus loves us -- and loves us passionately. He demonstrated that by coming down from heaven to be born in a stable -- to be raised by ordinary people - and then to die on a cross.
He showed it by reaching out to needy people to meet their needs -- to heal those who needed healing -- to teach those who needed to learn -- to show a better way to those who needed to change.
And Jesus shows his love for us in many ways today. He shows it by allowing us the freedom to choose him or not -- but he also shows his love by pursuing us throughout our lives as a lover would pursue the beloved.
Jesus never gives up on us. I cannot tell you just when Jesus first started pursuing me, but I imagine the groundwork was laid before I was even born.
My parents had a strong faith and made church attendance practically mandatory for my older brother and sister. So when my younger sister and I came along, it was already ingrained in the fabric of the family.
Then Jesus kept on pursuing me through the efforts of Sunday school teachers (ah, those saints who put up with all my shenanigans!); through friends in youth groups; and through the encouragement of a host of other people through the years.
Jesus continued his pursuit by sticking with me through college when I drifted away from the church. And he supported my varied spiritual endeavors and escapades.
Jesus was with me as I made a myriad of occupational choices - some good, some not so good.
He knew that someday I would open my heart, open my eyes, open my soul and realize where I belonged.
Of course, my mother knew all along. She saw early on the seeds of ministry written in my future. And, like Jesus, she never gave up on me.
I don't think she was surprised in the slightest when I announced plans to go to seminary, unlike many of my friends at the time, some of whom to this day are waiting for me to say "April Fools!"
Jesus continued his pursuit during my seminary years. I was reluctant, and many times wanted to pull away and do something else -- but Jesus kept gently calling me back.
Throughout my whole life Jesus always gave me the freedom to go my way, and frequently I did, but he always invited me to walk to the light - to go his way.
Now, after only a few years of ministry, I can see the blessings that have already accrued from following his call.
If I had my life to live over again, I would change only one thing -- I would cooperate better with Jesus. I would not doubt him so often, and I would not struggle so frequently to free myself from his call.
Now, I'd like to turn the tables and invite you to reflect on the ways that Jesus has loved you, to reflect on the ways that Jesus has pursued you throughout your life.
I hope that he was able to give you a good and gracious mother who might even have gone to church with you, because a loving mother who also values your spiritual upbringing is a special blessing.
I hope that he has given you a host of Christian friends throughout your lifetime - but if not, then look around, make some here at this church.
Maybe you can reflect on the many ways he has spoken to you -- sometimes when you were not even aware of his influence.
How he has spoken to you through the words of Sunday school teachers -- of youth leaders.
How he has spoken to you through the scriptures -- through the liturgy of our service, through the choir or maybe the hymns we sing, and maybe even occasionally through my sermons.
This week, I would like you to contemplate all the ways that Jesus has loved you -- all the ways that he has wooed you -- all the ways that he has sought to win you.
He may even be doing so right now as we sit here and worship together - and he is most definitely through the warmth of people who, after worship, will say hello to you.
Now let me invite you to imagine how Christ is praying for you. What would his prayer be for you?
How would he ask the Father to help you?
How would he be pursuing you today?
What would he be calling you to do?
And then let me invite you to think about how you are responding. When Jesus loves you -- woos you -- pursues you -- do you turn toward him or away from him?
Do you listen or turn down the volume?
And let me observe that the Christ who calls you will ask much -- but will give much more in return.
Christ loves you. He is with you day by day, always trying to help you -- always trying to bring God's power to your life. Let him win! Because when Jesus wins, you will win too!
Pastor Tom |
|
