This Sunday after the Ascension is also the last Sunday of the Easter season. It looks back to the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord, and it looks forward the the new outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon believers. The gospel from John 17:20-26 is related to both these themes. This reading is a selection from Christ’s Farewell Discourses in John’s Gospel. More precisely, it is from the chapter sometimes called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. In this prayer, our Lord looks to the time after His Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. He prays to the Father in the disciples’ presence. He prays for their faith, perseverance, and unity. Notice in John 17:20 that Christ does not merely pray for the Twelve “but also for those who will believe in me through their word…” (ESV) That means that Jesus prays for all His followers, including us. That was true when He was on earth and is still true.
Let us notice some aspects of Christ’s Prayer. 1) Jesus prays that His followers may be one, may be unified. However, His words in John 17:21-22 make it clear that Christ is not talking about some man-made organizational or political unity. While greater fellowship and acceptance among denominations and congregations can sometimes be very good, especially when rooted in common faith and convictions, true unity is more spiritual and moral in character. True unity among believers is rooted in the eternal, holy, and loving unity of the divine Trinity.
2) This unity among believers has a missional side. This aspect is mentioned in the second half of John 17:23, “so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” When Christians sincerely love one another, we not only honor God and help one another, we also witness to our faith before an unbelieving world. Loving one another does not mean that we have to agree on every minor detail or practice. However, we should be kind, be willing to acknowledge our own imperfections, and seek to speak the truth in love. This is what God expects, and it is good for the Christian mission to the world.
3) In the final verses of our Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the heavenly goal. In John 17:24, He prays, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am…” (ESV) This refers to vibrant and eternal life with the Father and the Son, based on divine love. In popular language, the goal is going to heaven. Because of the divine unity in love, and the love of Christ for us, we have hope of better and everlasting life.
In conclusion, until Christ calls us to the place He has prepared for us, we are called to repent of our sins, seek divine grace and love, and faithfully affirm the teachings of Scripture and the Creeds. We are to look to our crucified, risen and ascended Lord in prayer. And we are to seek to grow in divine love for God, for people in general, and for our fellow believers in particular.
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