Father Michael Renninger, Pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia, remembers showing a visitor around the sanctuary of his church. I don’t like your cross,” the man said. “Why?” Renninger asked. “Look at it! From one angle it looks like Jesus is dying. But, from a different angle, you see there’s a space between him and the cross. So, tell me, is Jesus dying or rising on that cross?” Renninger explores the answer to this visitor’s question in today’s sermon from John 17:1-11. “It all depends on how you look at it,” he says. Is Jesus dying, rising, or both? You be the judge.

This sermon is from A Sermon for Every Sunday, a series of lectionary-based video sermons designed for use in worship, Bible study, small groups, Sunday school classes or for individual use.

For more sermon preparation help, check out Pulpit Resource, Will Willimon's weekly lectionary-based sermon resource, available online and through a print subscription.