First, a little ha-ha!
Three well-to-do, affluent and moneyed sons – were trying to outdo one another with the extravagant gifts they gave their elderly mother on Mother’s Day!
The first said, “I got mom a new house!”
The second said, “Well, I sent her a new Mercedes.”
The third son said, “I’ve have you both beat! You know mom enjoys the Bible and she cannot see very well. So I sent her a parrot that can recite the entire Bible, chapter and verse. Trust me, that bird cost me a small fortune to have it trained!
Soon after Mother’s Day was over – Mom mailed her letters of thanks and appreciation to her sons.
To the first son she wrote, “Michael the house you bought is too large. I actually live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house.”
To the second son she wrote, “Marvin, thanks for the Mercedes. It is very nice. But as you know, I am nearly blind, so there it sits.
To the third son she wrote, “Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to know what your mother likes. That chicken was delicious, thank you!” And on that note:
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL MOTHERS!
Now on to the “Word…”
When it comes to this reading from John… I usually stop and ponder and pause after the first verse. I like to sit there for a while!
“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word…”
“That” is more than enough to chew on…
Jesus is praying for us! For you and for me, that is huge! It is wild. It is unbelieveable!
Let me set the context for you: It is Thursday evening, better known to us as Maundy Thursday. It is the night on which Jesus will be betrayed. He will be handed over to his enemies. He will be deserted by all of his male friends. He will be tried, convicted and ultimately crucified all within a “whirlwind matter of hours.”
And knowing that “all of this is yet to come” – he offers some parting words of encouragement and hope and then, he prays for them all.
Jesus prayed that they might endure whatever challenges come their way. He prayed that they discover “strength in unity.” He prays that they become one and unified. And he prays for all those who will believe – because of their testimony and witness.
I like that. Because that’s where we come into this gospel story…
Someone had to tell you about Jesus. Someone had to plant a seed or two…
Was it a mother or a father, a grandparent or a sibling or a friend? Was it perhaps a Sunday School teacher?
Someone told us about the good news that in Jesus – we see God’s great love for us all, love for each and every one of us. Someone brought us or directed us or led and guided us. Who was it – in your life?
Somewhere along life’s journey someone told us a story. Someone taught us to pray. Someone was there for us – planting little seeds of faith.
But here’s the other thing: someone else told the person who told us. And somebody else told that person…and so on and so on…all the way back to the testimony or to the witness of these disciples….
Who despite their fear – both on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and even on Easter morning – moved out of the closed-upper-room into the promise of the resurrection…
And they began to share the good news about Jesus with someone else.
One person at a time…
And so, when Jesus is praying here in John’s Gospel not only for these disciples – but also for those who will yet believe – “because of them” Jesus is praying…for…
Each and every Christian believer ever since…and that means all the way up to you and to me…
And now it becomes our turn – to gently lead and guide others into the family of God. To plant some seeds if you will…
I think the big thing—the “really big thing here” is that – the scripture is saying: that no matter what your struggles or your challenges, or the set- backs you may encounter, the stresses, and the illnesses of this life or as you face an uncertain future – know this:
You are loved and prayed for beyond measure and God is walking with you and always will be…Thanks be to God!