An interesting and hard to understand passage is the focus of the lectionary reading this week. (John 17.6-19)
On the surface it seems quite spiritual; talking about how the Christ is waiting to return to the Mother-Father. According to the text, prior to this returning Christ offered protection to those who are disciples but now Christ is asking the Mother-Father to provide that same protection. It sounds really good; the protection is now in the hands of the Mother-Father but (and it is a big but) this saying of Jesus was penned at a time when the followers of Christ were already under persecution. (85-90CE)
I always like to try to imagine how the words would sound to the early readers of the gospel. I have a hard time thinking how this would feel. The promise of protection yet seeing friends and family suffer. The exact number of Christians killed by Roman empire is undocumented. However, Eusebius, an early church historian, speaks of countless numbers and myriads perishing (Eusebius Pamphilus), estimates are that this was between 3,000 and 4,000. Several of the named disciples were included in the number of those martyred. Peter is believed to have been martyred in 64CE, twenty years before the Gospel of John was written, although, of course, these texts may have been part of the oral tradition. Regardless, it is well worth pondering on how this passage must have sounded to the early disciples.
The passage continues talking about how Jesus is sending or has sent disciples into the world. It is their mission and calling. That sense of calling must have been strong with those early Christians, hearing these words but already knowing the fate that would be waiting for them.
Waiting for something to happen is an experience I think everyone shares. It could be waiting for something pleasant to happen. The great anticipation of birthdays, Christmas, holidays as a child always brought great pleasure to me. Although, I know for some children waiting for those occasions is accompanied with a sense of trepidation and dread. As adults the same mixed feelings surround times of waiting: new jobs, marriage, birth of children, moving home, medical results, vacations and, even, end of life. Excitement, apprehension, fear, joy, nervousness, impatience are all words associated with waiting. Waiting is very much part of the human experience.
The season of ascension focuses on waiting. The risen Christ has ascended to the Mother-Father and now begins the time of waiting for the promised Holy Spirit.
Perhaps, for the disciples the waiting period began even earlier with ascension being a highlight along the way. The gospels have different time frames. In John’s Gospel there is a much shorter time period between resurrection and ascension than in the synoptics. Traditionally, in the church’s calendar it is 40 days.
Maybe, for them, the waiting period began with an incredible low as they witnessed the reality of death and crucifixion. They must have felt they had hit rock bottom. Yet, like the mythological phoenix, something was rising from the ashes — what a great picture that is of ascension! I have always loved the way C. S. Lewis expresses it in The Last Battle —"Their hearts leaped and a wild hope arose within them” (228)
But what a waiting period they must have been! The depths of despair as their hopes and expectations of a Messiah ended on a cross. Hope and expectation rekindled at the news of resurrection with then some walks, some conversations and a shared meal with the risen Christ culminating with watching Christ ascending.
But still the waiting continues as they prepare themselves for empowerment for the next phase of their lives. Empowerment that allowed the disciples over the next couple of centuries to follow the calling of being sent to bear witness to the Christ story whilst knowing the fate that would be waiting for them.
