They say you can never really know a person’s character un0l you’ve seen how he or she responds under pressure.
Show us a person in a stressful situation –
- like the loss of a job
- the loss of money
- the loss of friends
- when things don’t go as planned
- when his/her health or life is threatened
- when he/she loses a loved one
Then the real character of a person is revealed, they say. Watch a person under pressure –
- is it all about them?
- or do they continue to think of others?
- do they take their anxiety out on others?
- is blame the name of their game?
- how do they treat others who can do nothing for them?
These are some of the things that reveal a person’s true character – what they are really made of.
In our gospel readings beginning way back on Maundy Thursday and continuing through today, we see Jesus under very stressful circumstances –
- The pressure of the religious authori0es is building – they are out to kill him.
- He is aware that one of his friends will betray him to death.
- His followers are wishy-washy in their allegiance to him.
Worst of all – they s0ll don’t seem to understand what he has spent the last three years teaching them.
Many people would fold under that kind of pressure. But what does Jesus do?
He shows his true character –
- his absolute commitment to, and love for, God
- and his faithful love and commitment to God’s people
The writer of John’s gospel has wriWen down all the evidence of his character.
In John’s 13th chapter, we are told that during the evening he was under the most pressure, the night of the Last Supper, he takes on the role of a servant.
He waits on his friends as a servant, washes their feet, and then tells them to do the same for others. Then he gives them a new commandment – a new rule of life – love one another. He then tells them he is going to prepare a place for them so that eventually they can all be together again.
He warns them about the corrupting influences out in the world. Then he promises them the gift of an Advocate after he is gone – the gift of the Holy Spirit. He warns them of coming persecu0ons.
And then in today’s gospel he begins to pray for them – out loud – so everyone can hear him. On this Mother’s Day I am reminded of a mother’s love.
Jesus’ prayer is an extraordinary prayer –
- It is a prayer filled with glory.
- It’s the prayer of a man who has given everything he could to serve the God he loves and to serve God’s people.
- It’s the prayer of a man who wants to be sure that his followers will be protected after he is gone.
And the most amazing part of his prayer comes at the beginning of today’s gospel.
Jesus says to God – speaking about his disciples – “They were yours and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.”
Jesus is saying that the disciples were God’s gift to him and that they had been faithful to God. Now that’s amazing!
Think for a moment of whom he speaks. Think of the motley crew he is talking about.
Take James and John for instance: the Sons of Thunder –
- who wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans
- and who wanted the seats of honor in heaven
You would think Jesus would pray that God would grant them compassionate hearts and a bit of humility.
Instead he prays, “James and John were yours and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.” Later he says of James and John – I am glorified in them.
Amazing!
And what about Peter –
- who tried to walk on water and nearly drowned
- who whacked off the ear of a soldier with his sword
- and would deny he knew Jesus three times
You would think Jesus would ask God to give Peter more faith, to calm him down, to give him the courage of his convictions.
But no – he prays, Peter was yours and you have given him to me. He has kept your word. He says of Peter – I am glorified in him.
Amazing!
And then there’s Thomas – doubting Thomas who won’t believe in Jesus’ resurrec0on un0l Jesus lets him touch his wounds.
Surely Jesus would pray to God for courage and faith for Thomas.
Instead he prays – Thomas was yours and you have given him to me. He has kept your word. And he says of Thomas – I am glorified in him.
Amazing!
These are just a few of the ones Jesus prayed for. There were more. And none of them were spiritual superstars.
For all of them Jesus prayed – they were yours and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. He says – I am glorified in them!
Amazing!
Now here’s the interesting thing to remember.
After Jesus’s resurrection and after the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples do catch on fire for Jesus –
- they preach even when it is dangerous to do so
- when they are arrested, they sing hymns in their jail cells
- nailed to crosses or thrown to the lions, they keep the faith
What Jesus saw in them when he prayed for them comes true – becomes a reality. It was never the quality of these men that was important.
It was what they became when the Holy Spirit was moving in them.
It was their being open to moving with the Spirit that made them great. And what does that say about us in our day?
Well, as Paul put it in Romans 3, “We all fall short of the glory of God.”
And opera0ng under our own steam we don’t do much beWer than James or John or Peter or Thomas. But empowered by the Holy Spirit, who knows what we might accomplish for God?
One thing I know for sure – Jesus was not only speaking and praying for the disciples in today’s gospel.
He was speaking and praying for all of us when he said, “They were yours and you gave them to me. They have kept your word.”
Fill in your name: was yours and you gave her to me. She has kept your word.
Jesus says – I am glorified in (fill in your name).
was yours and you gave him to me. He has kept your word.
Put your name in Jesus’ prayer because he is talking about you. He is telling you your life counts. He is saying that filled with the Spirit, you can do amazing things.
That is Jesus’ prayer for you and me and for all of us. Amazing! Alleluia!