Within hours the Savior’s knees would crumble on the earthy dirt of the Gethsemane garden. The anguish and sorrow of the looming cross hovering over his head would produce sweaty drops of blood. Soon his body would hang on a tree, suspended in the air with his hands and feet nailed to the cross. The agony of being abandoned by his Father, with the sin of the world upon his shoulders, would be too much to bear. But before Jesus was betrayed, mocked, beaten, scorned, and forsaken to die on a cross, he had one final meal with his beloved disciples. An intimate evening with his closest friends permeated with candid conversations about life without the Savior. Soon he would be with them no more and they would be sent into the world to continue his mission. To face this reality, they would need to be thoroughly prepared to meet it head-on.
Awaiting to celebrate Passover, Jesus and his disciples make arrangements to share this celebratory meal together (Matt. 26:17-19; Mrk. 14:12; Lke. 22:7-8). His disciples find a large upper room furnished and prepare for the arrival of Jesus (Mrk. 14:13-16; Lke. 22:9-13). Soon they recline at table and begin the meal. But somewhere between the Institution of the Lord’s Supper and the betrayal of Jesus at the hand of Judas, Jesus has an intimate conversation with his closest friends (Matt. 26:20-29; Mrk. 14:17-25; Lke. 22:14-23). The words spoken by Jesus and captured by the Apostle John in his Gospel are traditionally known as the Upper Room Discourse (Jhn. 13-17). In this farewell address, they discuss the importance of service in the kingdom of God, the connection between love and obedience, the role and power of the Holy Spirit, and what it means to abide in Christ.
But the aim of this preparatory farewell address was singular in focus and most clearly articulated by Jesus as he prays over his disciples. This prayer–now known as the High Priestly Prayer–captures a summary of the discourse's primary themes, culminating in its missional thrust. Just as the Father sent Jesus into the world, he was now sending his very own disciples into it (Jhn. 17:18). In other words, in the same way, and for the same purpose, Jesus now sends his followers “so that the world may know” (Jhn. 17:23) his love. It is through the faithful actions of his followers, living as a faithful presence of God’s love and care for his creation, that the world will come to know the one sent by the Father. Empowered by his Spirit, reflected in our love for one another and through our obedience to the Son, the world may indeed come to know the love of the Savior. This primary theme reverberates throughout the Upper Room Discourse and continues to instruct followers of Jesus today.
In this series, So the World May Know, we will consider how the words of Jesus continue to teach us how to live as his faithful presence in the world today. As we peer into the intimate conversations captured in the Upper Room Discourse, we too will be equipped and empowered to faithfully bear witness to the love we have received in Christ. Just as the Father sent Jesus into the world, we also are being actively sent with the power of the Holy Spirit to give every man, woman, and child an opportunity to respond to the gospel. As one writer comments, "Nowhere else have we the heart of God so unveiled to us." Come, hear the words of your Savior revealed for you in this discourse, that you too may be prepared to represent the gospel as a faithful presence of God in the world today.