That They May Be One

This is the English-translated outline of the sermon delivered by Rev. Musubi Tabuchi to the congregations of Ashiya Christian Church and Unfinished Community on Sunday, June 1, 2025, drawing from John 17:20-26.

John 17 is Jesus' prayer just before he was arrested by the Jewish authorities of the time, and taken away to be crucified. In this prayer, Jesus prays that God will protect the disciples that He will be leaving behind. Interestingly though, Jesus does not pray for the protection of each individual disciple, but rather that they might "be one." As a phrase like "unity" might suggest, the one thing that most strengthens a community or group is the act of becoming one, of uniting together. However, it is not simply a blind unity that Jesus means here; we must carefully consider what "becoming one" means.

In the Bible, when the word "one" is used it often has the opposite meaning of what we might think; that is, it refers to allowing each individual to express their diversity, differences, and their own personal uniqueness. Being "one" is not about everyone wearing the same uniform - a term that literally means "one form" - after all! When Paul speaks of the church as being united in one "Body of Christ," he clearly acknowledges that each part - the eyes, ears, hands, and feet - all have different functions (1 Corinthians 12). With each part expressing its unique diversity, the whole can be made one through mutual consideration, and without division.

The disciples who saw Jesus ascend to heaven went on to experience the miracle of Pentecost, and then spread Jesus' teachings throughout the world, each in their own unique way. Thomas, we we have talked about before, is said to have traveled as far as India, but each of them continued to preach the Gospel of Jesus in their own way, along their own paths, but still united as one. Like Paul, they continued preach the Gospel through their own unique experiences in encountering the resurrected Christ, and it is this unity of diverse parts which is the origin of our great, Christian church.

While Christianity as a whole may appear fragmented at first glance, when we recognize that core fact that we are loved by God, and invited to share in the work of Christ Jesus, we can respect and accept one another not despite our differences, but because of them, and even love one another for the wonderfully unique people we each are. It is through this process of embracing our diversity that the unity of God's church is affirmed, and when we truly experience this unity we are able to realize, fully, the truth of Jesus' teachings.

Let us pray.

Loving God, we remember this Thursday your ascent into heaven. Now, we turn our eyes to the work you give us in fulfilling our duties on earth, while keeping our eyes on that heavenly kingdom where you now dwell. May we continue to serve and worship you, each in our own ways, making use of the gifts and possibilities given to each of us in you. We pray this in the name of our one Lord Jesus Christ,

Amen.