Jesus has come to make us one in God
by Maria Rudolph
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You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish (John 11:50).
Read John 11:45–57
Do you know the idiom ‘You cannot see the forest for the trees’? It means that something is in plain sight but somehow remains invisible to the beholder.
The Pharisees were an influential Jewish religious movement during the Second Temple period (circa 160 BC–70 AD). They were known for their focus on personal piety, adherence to both written and oral law and belief in the resurrection of the dead. They had the Messiah right before their eyes, but couldn’t recognise him or God’s work through him.
They could not think outside of their well-established box – their particular understanding of God’s law. Jesus violated these rules and regulations in such ways that they could only see a blasphemer in him, who needed to be exterminated by force. And yet, amazingly, that was exactly what God had planned for Jesus all along.
Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane as he was arrested by the chief priests’ mob (Matthew 26:56a), ‘But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’
Without even realising that he was pointing toward Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world, Caiaphas, the high priest, ‘prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God to bring them together and make them one’ (John 11:51b,52).
That includes you and me. We are drawn into the forgiveness of Christ to be made one in God our Father. How does it affect the boxes we build and the walls we erect toward other Christians when we consider this purpose of Christ – to make us one in him? Let us ask the Holy Spirit for daily help in this task.
Come, Holy Spirit, and breathe new life into us today. Fill us anew with your fire. Fill us with love for our Christian sisters and brothers from other congregations, other churches, other denominations. Christ has died for them, and for me, to make us one in God. Melt our hearts of stone and soften them to love our neighbour as ourselves, and to see God’s image in each person we encounter. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Maria serves at St John’s Lutheran Church in Perth, Western Australia. She is blessed with her pastor husband, Michael, who serves at Concordia Lutheran Church, Duncraig. With God’s help, they navigate ministry across two parishes and life at home with two beautiful high schoolers and one amazing boy in primary school. Pastor Maria also serves the Lutheran Church on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
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