Living in the Tension
John 17
Unity, but Not Uniformity
May 28, 2023 • Pastor Mark Wilson • John 17:20–26, John
Jesus has just finished praying specifically for the disciples as He makes a shift toward praying over all that would come to believe Him. This includes us! What is the first thing He prays for? Oneness. Unity. Jesus prays that in believers, there would be unified and aligned hearts that reflect the unity and oneness of the Father and the Son. Just as there is distinctness yet unity in the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, the Church is at its best when there is distinctness and unity among us. As believers, we will love the world as Christ loved us, and in that, pursue unity, not uniformity. We will celebrate our God-given differences and perspectives and fight for unity in Christ.
Uncomfortable, but Protected
May 21, 2023 • Pastor Mark Wilson • John 17:11–19, John
As believers we know that, since God is for us, no one can be against us. We know that through Jesus, we have life and life to the full. And as Jesus shifts His prayers to the disciples, He asks God for protection from this world. He prays that the truth of the Word would protect the hearts and minds of the disciples as they are sent out into the world. And while Jesus prays for protection, it is so that we can stay in but not of the world as we are sent into it. It doesn’t mean that we will be safe; in fact, Jesus knows that the world will hate those that follow Him, but He prays that the Word would sustain the head, hearts, and hands of those who follow Him.
Longing for Home
May 14, 2023 • Pastor Mark Wilson • Matthew 26:36–39, John 17:1–10
As Jesus begins His prayer in John 17, we see the tension He's dealing with. He lifts His eyes toward the hope of heaven, and yet He stands in the brokenness of earth. Here but not home. It is a holy unrest in all who believe. And as John 17 opens, Jesus knows He has finished the work God called Him to here as He prays for God to be glorified through what He is about to do on the cross. This world of brokenness is not what God intended, but we live here to show the world His original intention. This could only come through the work on the cross that allows us to step obediently into the continuing work of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We live here with eyes toward heaven, bringing heaven to earth through the example of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.