Good Shepherd sermon June 1, 2025 John 17. 20 – 26
“Oneness”
Grace, mercy, and peace to you, from God, the Creator, our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ, thru the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The next time you have a dollar bill in your hand, re-read – for the “umpteenth time” – the Latin words, “E pluribus unum.” While there is a slight difference of opinion to what these words precisely mean, the “go-to” translation is:
“From many, one.”
Jesus had the original concept of that phrase. I mean, look at those of us assembled right now – Many have congregated, right? In Jesus’ prayer he is praying the same thing – that from the original disciples with whom he shared this prayer, and down thru the ages, we – those of us here right now – have heard the message of love passed down.
And, believed!
Therein might lie the problem. This unity must be visibly based on love so that when the world sees the disciples, it will immediately know they represent Jesus. “By this all (many) will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I think you know that this love and unity is not some moral effort powered by human energy sitting around a fire pit singing “kumbaya” and eating S’mores. No, it is an outgrowth of the union that believers will enjoy with Jesus himself. It is a union modeled on the oneness of the Father and the Son, a bond established when the Father and the Son dwell in us – the believers – when we are given new birth.
I know that can be a lot to take in, but here’s the thing – this is something Jesus is constantly saying, teaching, and preaching to the disciples – please do as I do so there won’t be any “mistranslation,” like there’s some other motive behind showing love to all people besides the one of “oneness.”
You see – there is no other motive – Oneness is the only goal of the Crucified and Risen One. I believe that’s the reason this is the first thing Jesus asks for in his prayer.
So, as I read and re-read these few verses, it was verse 22 that reached out to me: Jesus says –
“I have given them the glory that you gave me,
that they may be one as we are one.”
As you have heard me say before, one of the strongest verbs used in scripture is the verb, “to give.” And Jesus uses it twice in this verse. He is emphasizing the gift that God gave to him, which is God’s glory. Jesus subsequently gave them his glory, and as the disciples proclaim the Good News, they impart – yep, they give that glory to others. Then, as time progresses that glory is shared to other believers…and, so on. That is how oneness occurs, or in the words of Jesus,
Complete unity.
So…what does “oneness” look like in the 21st Century? Is there even a possibility for such a thing? To look at newspaper articles, or the tens of thousands of words printed everyday on the Internet, or the amount of scathing commentaries from one side or the other on TV, YouTube, or the seemingly endless podcasts flooding the world, for many the answer to “oneness possibilities” are somewhere between slim…and…none.
Oneness not only doesn’t look possible. Perhaps it’s not even probable. Does that mean that we, who have been “given” the Spirit of Oneness, not try with virtually every breath we have to give the awesome (and, I don’t use that word flippantly) gift of knowing God’s grace and peace so that others would know the same thing?
Not know of it (hands clenched) – know it! Personally!
I mean isn’t that what Jesus was praying to God for in the first place?
Some people with whom I’ve spoken don’t necessarily believe they were given this gift of Oneness for one of possibly many reasons. They may feel there’s just too much division surrounding us. Unemployment or under-employment issues, financial distress, health diagnoses, family dysfunction, or this sad remark: “I’m too old for people to listen to me.”
Phooey!
Absolutely, there are a ton of negatives that can drag us down, but with Jesus Christ as the fulcrum of our lives, oneness is closer than many (most?) think! And, too old to encourage oneness? Hey – that’s a tremendous reason for others to listen to you, not dismiss you. With years comes wisdom – it is never too late to give this crucial message away.
Finally, and this is vital for Good Shepherd – in the process of looking for a full-time pastor; one who will be able to be the conduit to continue to help the congregation feel the gift of oneness. Please hear me – oneness translates exponentially more than increased “backsides in the pews;” oneness is more hearts knowing they have been given the gift of God’s answer to Jesus’ prayer – Unity with the Jesus and God.
Waving a “Prayer and Care” sheet.
This is a “Prayer and Care” sheet. It was a part of Wednesday evening’s “Lingering with the Lord” meditative service. One by one, each person and/or situation is prayed for. Each person on the sheets, in the pews, at home, on vacation, in the hospital are all part of the oneness Jesus prays for. That we pray for.
Remember what Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12, where he says there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. Verse 26 says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
That, dear friends, is oneness.
My prayer for us is that our collective prayer is one like Jesus prays. And that our oneness would transcend any social, cultural, and political division, as unity is achieved through the shared identity in Christ, as all believers are baptized into one body by one Spirit. Yes, from many…to one.
Let us pray:
Thank you, Jesus, for your prayers of oneness. Prayers that have been answered throughout the ages so that even now, the lives we live will exemplify the bond – the unity we have with the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.