I have told you many times – how and in what ways the Gospel of John is different.
In John’s gospel the disciples do not approach Jesus and say, “Rabbi, teach us to pray.”
There is no Lord’s Prayer recorded in John. No, Our Father…
The closest we come to it – is this High Priestly Prayer – that bespeaks of unity and oneness. It is also by far, the longest prayer we have from Jesus.
As always with John we must allow the circling repetition and non sequiturs (or the arguments that do not necessarily follow) to be like the swirling eddies of a whirlpool.
There are unexpected turns, things go round and round. They gather around you.
You cannot really manage them. They do not line up. They were not written to be sequential or logical.
Instead, what you are supposed to do is bask in them. Relax. Get comfortable. Allow them to swirl around you and to even encircle you. Soak them in and give them time…to speak to you. You will get their gist.
Again contextually this is Jesus’ last night on earth…liturgically, the day would be Maundy Thursday.
We have been told that Jesus came to save sinners. He came to bring life. His sense of compassion has brought healing to many who were sick. Again out of compassion he has brought food to the hungry.
We meet his power in raising the dead and in calming storms at sea and in walking on water, or turning water into wine to allow a wedding celebration to continue…on.
We hear of grace after grace being poured out on those in need.
In this gospel we find the love of God demonstrated and explained as nowhere else. Love becomes concrete. Real.
Like a pinnacle, John chapter 17 rises high above the other peaks in the gospel.
Here we are given a special opportunity. Here we are allowed to glimpse into the very soul of Jesus. We never get any closer to someone than when we know about their prayer life. This is private. This is personal…
So it is not overstating anything to say that when we come to this prayer — we are entering upon holy ground and we should come to it in a spirit of reverence and humility.
What does it mean to you – to say that you belong to Jesus? You are his. He is praying for you!
What does it mean for you that God loves you so much – that he cares for you so – greatly – that Jesus was sent for you!
This is not a high, lofty God who is unreachable, unapproachable. This is a God who comes seeking you out. This is a God who is in pursuit of you. This is a God who knows your name. This is a God who loves you – as his own. This God loves you unconditionally.
We set aside this one weekend a year to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice…and rightfully so.
It is a weekend to reflect and give thanks for our freedoms. It is a weekend to remember.
In your time of reflection remember that God – our God so loved the world, that he gave his son.
He came for us.
And he died for us – a horrendous death at the hands of people very much like ourselves.
He too, made the ultimate sacrifice…that you might have life…and have it abundantly.
So yes, this weekend is about remembering and calling to mind. It is a weekend bigger than we are.
There are many who have laid down their life. There are many who experienced the unthinkable.
And we stand in gratitude and in silence before them all.
We are on holy ground, on holy territory –in a thin place – and we should approach it was the spirit of reverence and humility that it is due.
Thank you, is never enough.
But it is a start!
Amen.