As we travel through the Gospel According to John I know that
sometimes it can feel painfully slow. Weeks like this one where I stretch
credulity and only ask us to read 3 verses can seem a bit much even to
the most devoted amongst us. If I were in the pew I know I would be
thinking, “O lord help him as he stretches 3 verses into a whole sermon,
and help to pay attention.” I know that. At the same time it is not every
day that we get to hear Jesus—our lord and saviour—praying for us with
such clarity and purpose and so I trust the Spirit as he tells me to slow
down here and to have us really listen to John’s gospel.
Jesus here prays for
1- our protection
2- our unity
3- our joy
So we will look at these three elements and look at how they relate to
each other and out lives.