Lent – Preparing For Easter
As I prepare myself for Holy Week I have been reflecting on Jesus' last moments leading up to the crucifixion. Specifically meditating on Jesus' prayer for unity for His disciples, and even more precisely on this passage in John 17:20,
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message".
Those words, "those who will believe in me" are truly astounding! Jesus, through His eternal perspective, offered up a prayer to the Father for me (and you)! It is not farfetched to believe that Jesus was not being vague here, that He in fact held us in His sights.
Jesus prayed for unity amongst believers and unity of believers to Him. So that "v23...Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you loved me". He prayed this as the events of the crucifixion were unfolding around Him. Jesus had very recently sent Judas away telling him "what you are about to do, do quickly" —John 13:27, referring to his imminent betrayal.
Many of us know the events of Holy Week: the triumphal entry, the last supper, the garden, the betrayal, the arrest, the trial, the mocking crowd, the heavy cross, the lashes, the crown of thorns, the nails, the final breath, the burial, and of course the resurrection! I will admit that I have largely omitted Jesus' prayer amongst the other events. I am grateful that this year as a church, we've camped out in the book of John, and for me, this has led to a deeper appreciation of the prayer offered up by our saviour. What a beautiful moment to take in. Jesus knows well what is to come and in these moments before His brutal suffering, He asks the Father to make us one.
Beloved, we are dear to Him—and as I think about this moment, this prayer, I delight in it as an act of love from Jesus. There will be time to consider His suffering and celebrate His resurrection but in this moment I urge you to consider His prayer for us, "v21... that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
I so desire to respond faithfully to His prayer and in closing I offer this word as an encouragement to pursue unity as Jesus prayed and commanded:
Ephesians 4:1-6
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Written by:
Dani Montes
