Pastor’s Corner – June 1, 2025
Prayer for Disciples – John 17:20-26
We drove for hours. One night, Dad packed his boys in his Chevy convertible. We fell asleep, watching the stars in the desert sky. When we finally arrived at dawn, Dad woke me up. I was half asleep when I stood rubbing my eyes as the sun was rising on the edge of the Grand Canyon. There I stood in AWE, before me was magnificent beauty staring at me. My mouth wide open as the image burned in my memory!
Abraham Heschel, in God in Search of Man, describes this experience as primacy of all religions. And all religions are secondary, as reflection of this experience that’s mystical, that’s fundamental to the connection we feel with the universe.
As we come to the end of the Easter season, we find ourselves with the prayer of Jesus, also known as his last departing words in the form of a prayer. It’s a prayer of unity and concern for disciples that they may have the same kind of love Jesus had. It’s a prayer for peace among disciples and to have unity that Jesus and God enjoyed, grounded by love for one another.
Reading the gospel John in Jesus’ prayer may feel esoteric, but in essence, it’s about the connection that’s hard to explain in words but experienced as the primacy of Jesus ministry, that is to say that without Jesus experience of God’s love for him, ministry and mission for Jesus is impossible. It’s with this in mind I believe Jesus wants us to know and come to know as Jesus did. Amen. Pentecost is just around the corner. Come let us worship God!
Pastor Dae