Not of this World!??? John 17:6-9

There are a variety of rich phrases and directions that a reflection on John 17:6-19 might go. Two are Jesus' petition "that all may be one" and his petition for the disciples' protection as the coming events unfold. Yesterday as I was driving to a meeting, another possibility hit me -- what about Jesus' comment that the disciples "are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (v. 14)?

Given John's perspective on the incarnation, this description is not Docetic (the idea that Jesus only appeared human and only appeared to die) or Gnostic (among others it includes the idea that all matter is evil). These words are no call to the disciples to withdraw from their surrounds or us for that matter. Rather as Christians, I think that Jesus is saying that we interpret our experiences in the world from a different perspective. We look at life and death and everything in between through a different set of lenses. Each Sunday, we corporately pray the Lord's Prayer saying, "...your kingdom come, your will be done..." As Easter people, we live aware of God's grace and live such that others are aware of that grace as well. Others, believers and non-believers alike, should be able to look at us and our actions and see something different about us.

The lection for this week closes with the portion of the prayer in which Jesus consecrates himself and the disciples. I think that consecration also applies to us. The disciples then and the church today are consecrated for a particular reason - so others may hear the good news of God's resurrection of Jesus Christ.