There must be a dozen or more places in this week's Gospel text that we might explore, but let's zero in on John 17:15. Jesus prayed, "I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but to protect them from the evil one."
Wouldn't you think our Lord would want to get us out of a world filled with racism, gender discrimination, political strife, climate damage, elitism, wars, avarice, sexual bias ... You name your own pains in the world. Wouldn't you think the Lord would want us to get out of such a world?
But, He says, "As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." (John 17:18)
If ever there were a divine injunction for us to work for social justice and political reform and human unity, this is it.
Paul certainly knew how difficult it would be to live as a faithful, holy disciple. He described that journey as being tossed to and fro and about and being victimized by lying schemes (Ephesians 4:14). Were it not for the prayerful support of our Lord, who would want to live in such a world? Sometimes, we who are Christian are tempted to believe that faith in our Lord is enough to make life flow gently. Not so! God chose to live in a world that misunderstood Him, that mistreated Him, and eventually killed Him. Jesus certainly knew what He was asking us to do when He prayed that we stay in the world!
There is a verse that comes just before today's study passage. Look at John 16:33. Then, look at 1 John 5:4. Both speak of how the Lord has conquered the world. That's why He sends us into the world. We are to be part of the way Jesus overcomes prejudice, hatred, disunity, and brokenness.
Life in the Church is not so we can escape the world; it is so we can engage the world.
What Someone Else Has Said:
Bob Farr and Kay Kotan wrote (10 Prescriptions for a Healthy Church, Abingdon): "Healthy congregations have some degree of conflict. If there is not conflict, there is a lack of pushing the envelope. A healthy congregation is one that has learned how to manage conflict-not necessarily resolve it."
Prayer:
As you prepare this lesson, let your prayer begin: "Go with me, Lord, into the world, and show me what difficult love looks like ... "
