The Word Made Flesh

Message Title: The Word Made Flesh
Theme: Even the Rocks Will Cry Out
Season: Easter
Main Text: John 17:6-19
Scripture Reading: Psalm 1
RCL Scripture: *Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19
Focus: Jesus prays for his disciples.
Function: To engage with scripture academically and spiritually.
Other Notes: Next week is Pentecost!

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 1 The truly happy person doesn’t follow wicked advice, doesn’t stand on the road of sinners, and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful. ²Instead of doing those things, these persons love the Lord’s Instruction, and they recite God’s Instruction day and night! ³They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds. ⁴That’s not true for the wicked! They are like dust that the wind blows away. ⁵And that’s why the wicked will have no standing in the court of justice—neither will sinners in the assembly of the righteous. ⁶The Lord is intimately acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is destroyed.

NATIONAL PARKS:

1. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
   1. The Lost Colony by Paul Green- tells the story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke.
      1. “The origins of one of the America’s oldest unsolved mysteries can be traced to August 1587, when a group of about 115 English settlers arrived on Roanoke Island, off the coast of what is now North Carolina. Later that year, it was decided that John White, governor of the new colony, would sail back to England in order to gather a fresh load of supplies. But just as he arrived, a major naval war broke out between England and Spain, and Queen Elizabeth I called on every available ship to confront the mighty Spanish Armada.

In August 1590, White finally returned to Roanoke, where he had left his wife and daughter, his infant granddaughter (Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the Americas) and the other settlers three long years before. He found no trace of the colony or its inhabitants, and few clues to what might have happened, apart from a single word—“Croatoan”—carved into a wooden post.” -History.com

1. “In 1587, 117 English men, women and children came ashore on Roanoke Island to establish a permanent English settlement in the New World. Just three years later in 1590, when English ships returned to bring supplies, they found the island deserted with no sign of the colonists. After nearly 450 years, the mystery of what happened to the colonists remains unsolved.” – Lost Colony Website
   1. Sources:
      1. https://www.thelostcolony.org/
      2. https://www.history.com/news/what-happened-to-the-lost-colony-of-roanoke
      3. https://www.nps.gov/fora/index.htm
      4. https://www.thelostcolony.org/ticket-info/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4v2EBhCtARIsACan3nzuvWpAbzLs1ywAWvJVSTzFgZIRVXsIsKyCk06HQFNMH4Bj2C3j-qQaAtJ3EALw_wcB

TRANSITION: This national historic site strives to keep the story of the founding colonies alive through drama.

Today, instead of rocks, I want to let the words of Jesus shout as a prayer becomes a lesson. I’m sure we’ve all figured out my routine for sermons. Today we’re taking things out of order! Let’s gather some information!

APPLICATION:

1. Bible Study: Tools for Study
   1. Bible study just finished our lesson series where we looked at the four gospels and compared their version of the same story. We also learned new spiritual practices for engaging with scripture.
      1. We learned to ask questions and dig in deep. Scripture came alive.
      2. This Wednesday we’ll be picking a new study. Want to join? Come on down 6:30 pm Wednesday.
   2. Synoptic Gospels: Through our study, we noticed 3 of the gospels overlap in details frequently.
      1. Synoptic sourcing
   3. John, is not pat of the synoptic Gospels. John frequently tells a completely different story than the other three Gospels.

Our text for today is a perfect example of this divide.

EXPLAINATION:

1. The last few weeks, we’ve been in John and the passages have been on Maundy Thursday. We’re still in that same time.
   1. Jesus has had his final Passover meal with his disciples.
   2. He washed their feet.
   3. He gave final instructions.
   4. Then Jesus prays.
      1. I’m assuming you will be more familiar with the next events from the “synoptic gospels”
      2. Jesus takes 11 disciples to the Garden of Gesthemane (judas has already left)
         1. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John away from the group to pray
         2. The disciples fall asleep while Jesus prays “take this cup from me… yet your will be done.”
         3. Luke even says Jesus was so stressed and sad that he sweat drops of blood.
   5. But John’s gospel? TOTAL DIFFERENT?

INTERPRETATION:

1. John’s Gospel has focused on telling the story of God in the flesh. The Infinite God entered humanity in Jesus with the intention to redeem creation.
   1. John’s Jesus prays but not for himself and not out of stress or fear. John’s Jesus prays for his disciples.
   2. John’s Jesus connects his ministry with the work of God since creation.
2. God wanted a relationship with creation from the beginning.

SCRIPTURE: we are going to read the whole of Chapter 17. As you hear these words through our readers, listen for the promises God is making. Listen for the healing.

John 17

CONCLUSION: The Synoptic Gospels’ Garden prayer showed a relatable and human Jesus. They showed a Jesus who understands our stress and pains. John shows us the divine Jesus who will make all things right again. Together, all four Gospels proclaim the glory of the God we follow. The Word of God proclaims the Word.

Conclusion of Series: Palm Sunday the Pharisees told Jesus to silence his followers and Jesus said if he did, even the rocks would cry out the truth. We’ve seen wonders of National parks, forests, and historic sites proclaiming the beauty of America and the wonder of our Creator. God can use rocks and trees. God can use fires and storms. God can use the low and broken. All parts of creation are part of his glorious design for redemption and even Jesus’ prayer proclaims it.