We all know that the world is and can be “a very scary place.”
The author of the fourth gospel has a very special “take” or “spin on” the “world” in which he resided.
The Greek word for “world” is Cosmos…not to be confused with the drink of almost the same name – that is sure to make MOM feel “a little bit tipsy” on “her special day.”
Cosmos not cosmo…short for cosmopolitan!
The Greek word Kosmos (spelled many times with a “K” or a “C”) can mean “order,” “the universe,” “harmonious,” “whole” or “the world.”
The word is actually used 185 times in the Early Christian Writings, one hundred and two of which is attributed to this our author.
He likes the terminology – “WORLD.”
We are told God loves “the world.”
We are told Jesus loves “the world.”
And yet, the world is a rather “iffy” place.
That is the reason – it is stated that Christians live “IN” the world, but are not “OF” the world. We are “other worldly.” For us there is another kingdom. A better kingdom…a better place…
We are to be “leery” of “the world” that is all around us.
As we well know, the world is not always a “safe place.” The prudent person is always aware of their surroundings. Always! Be alert!
The author of the fourth gospel saw the “world” as being “permeated with evil.”
The “world” is filled with imperfection, injustice, sin, temptation, seduction and cruelty.
It is not necessarily a fun place.
The fourth evangelist sees the “world” as being “opposed to the values of heaven…and opposed to God.”
The world is full of greed, corruption, the love of money, darkness and the dark powers of hate, division and destruction.
The “world” embraces selfishness, self-centeredness and trusts in the power of “force.”
For all intents and purposes the “world” is hostile to God and his values and hostile to his ways.
But God and Jesus are very concerned for the “world” and love and embrace it.
John 3.16 tells us, “That God so loved THE WORLD that he gave his only begotten son.”
And Jesus comes, not to judge or to condemn or to destroy the world, but to “save it.”
“The whole world” is in need of saving…the whole of the world needs God. The whole world is basically a mess!
This would be John’s take on the matter…and ever since he penned his gospel, he has gained a lot of people who totally and completely agree with him and his analysis.
The world IS in bad shape.
But there IS hope for the world. There is always hope. Christian hope. With God all things are possible!
And that hope – is none other than Jesus called the Christ.
The author of John’s gospel would go so far as to say, “Thanks be to God, who loves us and cares for us and has concern for our world and for the state of it.”
He would also remind us that this is “God’s world” and he created it.
Therefore, he starts out his writing by saying, “In the beginning was the word and the word was God and the word was with God.”
“Twelve times” in our reading for (tonight/this morning) the WORLD is mentioned. I counted them; you can count them as well… (Just not NOW ok – hold off – if you can!)
Twelve times because the “world” is that important. It is “that huge.” And, because it is so sorely – in need…
So, it is IN this “High Priestly prayer” – that Jesus prays for his disciples then and his disciples NOW.
He prays for “the world” in which we reside. He prays for us…because Lord, knows we all can use it and need it, Lord knows we can ALL use ALL the prayers we can get. And Lord knows this world of ours, is SORELY IN NEED, as well.
So here – on this Seventh Sunday of Easter and Mother’s Day Weekend…we are being told we have a God who very much cares for us and our world and indeed prays for us.
We are loved. We are prayed for. We are deeply and eternally cared about…
Our God is bigger than all of our problems…and he cares for you!
Amen.