Jesus' unanswered (yet) prayer...

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe you have sent me." John 17:20

Today's preaching was based on this passage where Jesus was praying for himself, his disciples and believers in the Garden of Gethsemane. Why is it still an unanswered prayer? Because the Christian world today is so fragmented, broken up into hundreds of denomination.

I was puzzled - that though we may have different opinions on doctrines, essentially we are still serving and worshiping the one same God. Yet the unification is more than just the God we worship but a unification of the same spirit, working together in humility and not getting sidetracked over divisive matters (I agree that the last has been a problematic issue).

I am not sure why Pastor Chua chose to speak on this today. We were certainly not prepared for this. Has there been a divisive spirit in the church? I am hardly aware of such in the church but as he touched on unity and support for a new senior pastor (Elder Loo) and the soon-to-be independent Chinese congregation, you could sense a certain undercurrent.

To lead is to serve. And to be of one, there cannot exist a situation where a part of the body think it's superior to the others. "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another's feet... I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

The next event shocked us. Pastor Chua, all of 70+ years, suddenly knelt down before a Chinese congregation leader and Mrs Loo (as Peter was not around) and wiped their shoes (as the two were not told). And he asked to be able to serve them and to submit to Peter's authority (when Pastor Chua hand over this senior pastor's position).

That brought tears to everyone. Someone whom the church respect. A fatherly figure to many. As he continued, leaders in church started to clean the feet of the lay people. I saw my CGL cleaning the feet of Shu Kar and Richard. It was indeed an amazing sight to behold. Humility and servanthood personified.

From heaven you came, helpless babe

Entered our world, Your glory veiled

Not to be served, but to serve

And give Your life that we might live


This is our God, the servant King

He calls us now to follow Him

To bring our lives as a daily offering

Of worship to the servant King