In a time of confusion and conflict, the disciples need help. We need help. And Jesus prays for us because we need it.
Because we need help.
Easter 7B | John 17:6-19
Jesus prayed for his disciples.
I don’t know about you, but I think I take prayer for granted. Praying is what Jesus should do, right? He’s supposed to pray for people. He’s the leader. The professional. Rabbi/Teacher. Of course he prays.
Prayer is a given.
The thing about “a given” is that we specifically choose to ignore it. When something is a given, it means we all agree it’s a thing so that we can focus on other things. Specifically not that thing.
I don’t think we ought to consider Jesus praying with his disciples a given. We ought to treat this like the important information it is.
So let’s take it again from the top.
Jesus prayed for his disciples.
Jesus, Child of Humanity, Messiah, blessed by God to love and redeem the world, that Jesus prayed to God for his disciples.
Prayed in thanksgiving that he got to be with them.
…understanding that they are God’s, in gratitude that he could be among them.
…thankful that they kept God’s word.
Prayed as an intercessor on their behalf.
…in gratitude and concern for their well being.
Prayed for their protection.
…and not to take them away.
…save them from the evil one.
…sanctify them in the truth.
Jesus prayed for his disciples.
And like most of us when we pray without a prayer book, find ourselves explaining to God.
I get that you gave me this responsibility that you already know about because you gave it to me.
You know I did this because of you.
And I know that you know that I know, but I just want to be crystal clear here. I don’t want you mad and I don’t want to look an idiot who doesn’t know better.
Even Jesus seems to get caught up in this funny explaining apologizing.
And as distracting as it all can be—who hasn’t gotten lost in a prayer tangent?—the point remains.
Jesus prayed for his disciples.
He didn’t take it for granted. Or assume they’re all good.
He prayed. For them. To God.
And some of that prayer was about them. Some of it was for them because they might not fully get the need to pray. He encapsulates all of the need in this prayer.
And he does this when he’s about to be betrayed. About to die. When he’s about to go away.
This is his prayer for them.
These students, loaned to him by God to teach, need protection because they will be scared and confused. The world, with all of its anger and hatred, violence and condemnation would drive them in a different direction. Away from the love of God. The generosity of Christ. The community of the Holy Spirit
They need help.
Jesus prayed for his disciples.
Because it was time to go.
And so he did.
He prayed. And then met his betrayer in the garden. Faced his false trial. Died.
And then…God changed things.
The dead was brought back.
And we’ve spent the last six weeks celebrating that intervention. Not intervening to protect Jesus from dying, but intervening to steal the sting from death. To reveal something about life: that it’s more than literal living and dying in a biological sense. We are not trapped in this existence or the physicality of our reality.
And this Sunday, the one wedged between the Ascension and the Pentecost to come, we face this crazy, confusing, confounding moment in-between when we don’t know what to do or where to go or what we’re supposed to believe. The disciples no longer have Jesus with them. Just what he said.
But we have more than that. We have a gospel that reminds us.
Jesus prayed for his disciples.
They may be confused because they don’t know what’s next, but we do. That Jesus isn’t really gone. Just changed.
We just have Jesus. All of him.
Teaching us and praying for us.
Conspiring with us and encouraging us.
Because we may be in this world, but we aren’t of it. Not fully. We’re dual-citizens with a true calling that goes beyond borders and identities.
We are children of a big, global family. Citizens of a truly uniting kin-dom. Members of a boundless community. And we are loved by a loving God; protected by a compassionate God; and brought together by a generous God to be the very thing we are called to be. Our purpose. The reason Jesus came into the world and the means of his restoring it.
We are the love of the world. Blessed to be a blessing. Especially now.