I Am With You
John 17: 6-19
Human history has always been marked by struggle – struggles for fundamental rights, including the most basic right to exist. And coming out of those struggles, there are many instances of people around the world, who have shown solidarity with and empathy for those who have been victimized or are struggling, by choosing to identify with them. In doing so they are saying – “I am with you”. I see your pain and struggle, I want to do my part to change things.
Identifying with people in their journeys and struggles is not something that is new, it does not belong to this internet and hashtag age – it has been a significant and important response to our common humanity across generations and cultures.
And I will go further to say that it is one of the most significant features of our relationship with God. When we think of God becoming flesh – is that not what it is about? God choosing to so identify with us?
When God took on Human flesh in the person of Jesus, and dwelt among us, was that not God’s way of identifying with us in our struggles and our quest for meaning and wholeness?
Was that not God’s way of identifying with us in a manner that was easy for us to understand and embrace – in a manner that made it easy for us to receive what God had to offer?
The apostle John speaking of Jesus says: “The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1: 14).
And the writer of the New Testament Book of Hebrews, speaking of Jesus as our high priest, says: “Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 14 – 16).
God in Christ, identifies with us; not so that God can better understand us, but that we can better understand God, and that we can better appreciate what God is doing for us and for our world.
In identifying with us, God makes it easier for us to open ourselves to the salvation and possibilities that God offers.
But unlike those who come out in support when we are going through our struggles, God in Christ does not identify with us simply as an act of solidarity, God identifies with us out of a relationship of love.
A love that is multidimensional and multidirectional – that draws us to God and to one another, and involves every aspect of our lives. And as God identifies with us, God also calls us to likewise identify with one another. We are called to love one another as Christ loves us, and to be one, as Jesus and the Father are one.
What does that involve? What does that oneness look like?
It is not simply about showing solidarity – to stand with each other around a common cause or shared values, or common grievance. It is about something much more fundamental and far reaching; it is about that which identifies us as people of God, and that which is essential for our wellbeing in this world.
It is about how we see and treat each other. It is about seeing ourselves in each other’s struggles and pain, and joys. It is about seeing ourselves as created for each other, and being made complete in each other.
It is to understand that we cannot be truly whole when our sister is broken, because we are one.
It is to appreciate that we can never be truly free, while our brother remains in bondage, because we are one.
It is to accept that we must never be satisfied while our neighbour is hungry; we must never be comfortable while that family known to us is struggling.
It is to realize that we cannot love God and be indifferent to God’s people. The question is asked in 1 John 3: 17 “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?”
Jesus acknowledges that this world can be a difficult place, and that we need each other if we are to overcome, so he prayed:
Father, I am asking on behalf of those whom you gave me …. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world …... Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. (John 17: 9-11)
To be one as Jesus and the father are one, is to care for each other as we would care for ourselves.
The early church exemplified this oneness for which Christ prayed. This is how the Book of Acts, describes life among the early believers:
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds* to all, as any had need.
46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home* and ate their food with glad and generous* hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (Acts 2: 43-47)
No wonder everyone was in awe. No wonder they enjoyed the goodwill of all the people. No wonder day by day people were being saved and added to their number.
Because people were witnessing the gospel being lived out in those believers.
They were one in faith, but more importantly, they were one in their love for God and for each other.
What about us? Are we one as Jesus and the Father are one? Do we care for one another as Christ cares for us?
What do we do about that brother that is broken - overwhelmed by the burden he carries? How do we show that we care?
What do we do for that sister who struggles to put food on the table? Does her struggle move us to act?
Do we see ourselves in that family who cannot pay their rent? What would be our response?
How do we live out our oneness in Christ?
We live out our oneness when we care for one another, when:
We share each other’s woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And when for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
When we do that, we bear witness to the presence and love of God.
When we do that, we become the true Church of Jesus Christ, a community of caring disciples, who love not in just in word, but in truth and action.
Amen.
