Have you ever been prayed for? Of course you have. But have you ever been prayed for without knowing about it? I was at a meeting over at St. Barnabas United Methodist Church in Arlington a couple of weeks ago and out of the clear blue, a member whom I'm only slightly acquainted with, came up to me and asked me how my mother is doing. She had heard in their prayer time that Mom needed our prayers. She didn't know what it was all about, but lifted Mom and me in prayer.
It was kind of an incredible feeling. I told Mom about it and she felt the same way. People we didn't even know were praying for Mom.
There is someone else that has prayed for us without our requesting it and without us even knowing about it. He prayed for us before we were ever born and before the church was ever formed. I'm talking about Jesus, of course. At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for the Disciples and for the future church. And that includes us.
And every time we gather for the Sacrament, every time we bow our heads in prayer, every time we gather for worship we feel the power and effect of that prayer. It's like a Blast From The Past. And we feel it. So, let's look at the passage that tells us about this Blast From The Past.
Read here - John 17:1-19 (NRSV)
Jesus prayed for the Disciples, the each church that would grow and become the church which we belong to, and for all of His followers, which includes us. Jesus' prayer included two things. He prayed that we be GUARDED AND GUIDED.
I. Guarded
A. One of the things that I've learned over the years is that children and teenagers like, need and want boundaries in their lives. They may push and shove and test those boundaries all the time. They may drive adults crazy in testing those boundaries. They may even cross the boundaries at times. But they want those boundaries. And they need those boundaries.
Those boundaries make them feel safe, protected and loved. When there are no boundaries children and teenagers don't feel wanted or loved. Not setting boundaries is equivalent to saying: "I don't care what you do," Which in their minds is the same thing as saying: "I don't care about you."
Boundaries, rules and a caring hand make us feel protected and GUARDED.
B. I read about a man and his daughter who visited a congregation for the first time. They really liked the church and knew some of the people. After the service he lingered, talking to this person and that. When he stepped outside, his four-year-old daughter, Melody, did not come out. By then the building was empty, and the door was locked and could be opened only with a key.
He called through the mail slot of the large oak door, "Melody are you in there?" A small frightened voice answered, "Yes, Daddy." Then Melody put her hand through the mail slot so Daddy could hold it until someone fetched a church key. Melody could not see him, but she knew her father was there, and she was comforted. (1)
God is like that comforting hand through the mail slot. We may not see God, but God is there holding hand because Jesus lifted us up in prayer so long ago. And because of that prayer, whenever we need God's presence, we are GUARDED by the hand of God and we can feel that Blast From The Past.
II. Guided
A. Jesus prayed that we be GUARDED but He also prayed that we be GUIDED, too. HE PRAYED THAT WE BE GUIDED TO A HIGHER PURPOSE.
For most people, life seems to be all about getting the most stuff. Have you seen the bumper sticker that was popular a few years ago - "The one who dies with the most toys wins."
That kind of expresses our consumer mentality doesn't it? But you know, a life of just stuff is pretty empty. Because no matter how much you have, or what you buy, there's always someone out there with more and something better. If you live just for stuff and prestige, then you're going to find that is hollow, empty and meaningless.
B. But God created us for something higher. AND JESUS PRAYED THAT WE BE GUIDED TO A HIGHER PURPOSE.
Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly called it the "Play of the Year." A local newspaper called it "the touchdown heard around the world." Sports shows everywhere told the story.
Jake Porter, 17, a member of the Northwest High football team in McDermott, Ohio, was born with chromosomal fragile X syndrome, a common cause of mental retardation. He couldn't read. He could barely write his name. But he loved football, and he faithfully attended every practice.
Northwest coach Dave Frantz wanted to do something special for Jake. So, before a game against Waverly High in the fall of 2002, Frantz called his friend Derek Dewitt, the head coach at Waverly. Frantz suggested that both teams allow Jake to run one play at the end of the game, assuming the game wasn't on the line. Jake would get the ball and take a knee, and the game would end.
So, with Waverly leading 42-0 and five seconds left in the game, Frantz called a timeout. Jake trotted out to the huddle, and the two coaches met at midfield.
Fans could see there was a disagreement. Dewitt (the Waverly coach) was shaking his head and waving his arms.
After a referee stepped in, the play resumed and Jake got the ball. He started to take a knee, just like he'd practiced all week long. Teammates stopped him and told him to run, but Jake started going in the wrong direction. The back judge rerouted him toward the line of scrimmage.
Suddenly, the entire Waverly defense parted like the Red Sea and cheered him on, urging him to keep going on. And he did. He ran a grinning sprint to the end zone.
Can you imagine having 21 teammates on the field. In the stands mothers cried and fathers roared. Players on both sidelines held their helmets to the sky and whooped.
Apparently when the coaches met before the big play, Frantz (from Northwest) had reminded Dewitt (from Waverly who was leading 42 - 0) of the plan, that Jake would simply take a knee. But Coach Dewitt wasn't satisfied. He said, "No, I want him to score." Frantz objected, but Dewitt insisted.
Dewitt then called his defense over and said, "They're going to give the ball to number 45. Don't touch him! Open up a hole and let him score! Understand?"
Jake had the run of his life, scoring the touchdown heard round the world, on the Play of the Year. All because of Coach Derek Dewitt's unselfish decision: "I want him to score."
Like coach Dewitt, God has a high purpose for each of us. God doesn't want us to just get the ball and touch a knee to the ground. God wants each of us to score a touchdown.
In praying for us at the Last Super, Jesus lifted us all to a higher purpose. He doesn't want us to simply drop a knee to the ground, remember that's the work of a servant and a subject. Last week we learned that He no longer calls us servants. Now He calls us "FRIEND" And as a friend of Jesus, Jesus has a higher purpose for each of us.
Jesus wants us to feel that Blast From The Past. He wants us to remember that we've been prayed for. Jesus wants us to be GUIDED. He wants us to score a spiritual touchdown and have a higher purpose in our lives.
Conclusion
This morning as we come to the Lord's Table we come to a Blast From The Past. We come and remember how Jesus prayed for us. We remember with joy that He asked God to GUARD AND GUIDE us just like God GUARDED AND GUIDED Jesus throughout His own ministry. Through the elements of Bread and Wine, we are drawn into the heart of the past where we remember what Jesus did for us on the Cross and at the Empty Tomb. And we are fed by that Blast From The Past fed and strengthened to live for Him today.
Draw Near today. It's more than hot dogs, hamburgers and root beer floats, today's fare is Holy Food a Blast From The Past that will both GUARD AND GUIDE YOU.
1. http://www.preachingplus.com: From correspondence with Garry Friesen, author and academic dean of Multnomah College (10-26-02); submitted by Jeffrey D. Arthurs, South Hamilton, Massachusetts
2. http://www.preachingplus.com: Mark Moring, Elburn, Illinois; sources: Sports Illustrated (11-18-02), The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, W.Va. (11-10-02)