For many Christians the word evangelism evokes a sense of fear and dread. The word often conjures up visions of preachers on street corners with bullhorns or stacks of spiritual tracts to be passed out door to door.
What does the word evangelism actually mean, and what does it actually call us to do? The original Greek word for evangelism translates as “gospel” or “good news” and as a verb, “to announce” or “bring good news.” Evangelism is what God calls us to do: announce God’s good news to the world.
In this passage, Jesus prepares his disciples to go into the world to share this gospel message. In so doing, he prays that the disciples “will be one just as [God and I] are one” (ceb). Before sending them out, Jesus calls them into relationship with God, with himself, and with other believers. What a blessing that we aren’t asked to do this evangelism thing alone!
This good news is “eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent” (John 17:3, ceb). The gospel message isn’t simply eternal life eventually; it’s relationship now—with God and with others. Richard Rohr, in his book The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation, says the Way of Jesus is “an invitation to a Trinitarian way of living, loving, and relating—on earth as it is in the Godhead” (46). Living, loving, and relating with God and living, loving, and relating with people is how we can evangelize, sharing this gospel in our everyday lives.
Jesus prays this hope-full prayer before crossing the Kidron Valley on his way to the Garden. Jesus, knowing his death approaches, still speaks of the good news of love, relationship, and eternal life.