Weekly Bible Study - Acts 1:12-14 and John 17:1-11

1 June 2014

7th Sunday of Easter   

It is a time of anxious anticipation. Jesus has left the earth and ascended to the Father. The apostles, together with Mary and the other women, have now returned to the upper room, the setting of the Last Supper. This is a familiar and perhaps comforting place for the apostles at this uncertain time.

Luke offers us one simple but significant detail of their activity in this gathering: “All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer.” It seems the only thing they want to do at this time of waiting is to pray. They are drawn together in heart and mind in this place. And they are not alone. One is present to them, for he has promised that where two or three are gathered in his name, he is there in their midst.

Jesus prays with and for them, just as in his earthly life he offered his great priestly prayer* to the Father in that same upper room. Today's Lectionary readings join our scene from Acts with the scene in today’s Gospel of John.

Can we even fathom the intensity with which Christ offered this prayer, just hours before he went to his death? Can we even imagine that Christ had all of us in mind as he proclaimed those words we hear in today’s Gospel: “I pray for those you have given me." Since I will no longer be in the world, he seems to be thinking, I need to pray for those who will be in the world carrying on my work of redemption, making Your name known, bringing alive the Good News of the kingdom of God.

Like the apostles and holy women gathered in that upper room, we draw strength and vision from knowing Jesus is with us—even as the veil of uncertainty is lifted from us and the Spirit enlightens our hearts. Let us, this week especially, “devote ourselves with one accord in prayer.”

*This great priestly prayer of Jesus is found in John, chapters 14-17.  As you prepare for the Feast of Pentecost, spend some time this week reading this extended passage.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.