If you ever doubt the love Jesus has for you, read John where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, tells them he is leaving them (chapter 13), comforts them, promises a counselor after he leaves (chapter 14) and prays for them (chapter 17). I was quite overwhelmed today because of how much it felt like he was speaking to me and about me.
Jesus promising the Holy Spirit played a major part in my overwhelmed state this morning. In chapter 14 he explains that the Spirit of truth will come and be with and in his followers, teaching us and reminding us the teachings of Jesus. In the world today truth is a foreign concept. But we, His followers, have the Spirit of truth with us, guiding us (16:13), convicting us (16:8), and teaching us (14:26). The Spirit of truth is promised to guide us into all truth, which is the word of God (17:17). Why do we overlook that? We have a counselor walking with us, showing us what is wrong and teaching us what we need to know. If we would only look to Him and turn our attention to Him more often.
Then, in chapter 17, Jesus prays. Even the thought of Jesus, who is one with God, praying to God blows my mind, but his words are words of a person in love, and his prayer is for his followers who were with him at the time as well as for us, his future (now present) followers. He prays for protection because he will no longer be there next to them to protect them (v11). He knows we are not strong enough on our own to protect ourselves. He knows that the world hates and will continue to hate those whom he has given the word but does not pray for God to remove his followers from the hateful place but to protect them from the evil one (v15). Then, he prays for our unity, not only unity with Them but unity with each other was well (v23).
Are we united? I would argue no. The lack of unity and the result of that breaks my heart. We have been foolish, not allowing the Spirit of truth to teach us, letting our own thoughts divide us. We have been prideful, thinking we can protect ourselves and those around us from the evil one on our own. Chapter 16 verse 2 warns us about how twisted the concept of truth will become; "a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God." At church this last Sunday part of the sermon was about the lack of access to the Gospel that people around the world have; over 2.8 billion have no access. And how important it is that the Church bring access to those people as a priority over focusing on the United States because the United States citizens have access. I do think that expanding the number of people with access to the gospel and to truth should be a priority. People in our society have access to "truth" more than people in the 10/40 window, yes. But what is the "truth" they have access to? Do we all have access to the truth that the Holy Spirit guides and teaches us in? No. Many only have access to twisted truth that is really not truth at all! The unity that Jesus prayed for portrays love, and the reaction to that love is the worlds belief. The Church must become united, showing love to our neighbors and, through that,prompting belief. Our neighbors are not only those in our Christian bubble: camp staff, dorm mates, those we sit next to at church. We need to bring true access to people who have zero as well as twisted access to the Gospel.
Holy Spirit, guide your followers into unity, that we may bring true access to truth back into our generation and generations to come.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
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