Episode 116 - That they may be one - John 17:20-26

John 17:20   “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

The message in this part of the prayer has hit me more profoundly recently than it has any other time I’ve been through this. But, there is a sense in which it feels like Jesus keeps saying the same thing. If we are not careful, we might miss something profound.

Did you notice who Jesus is praying for? It’s you and I. We are the people who believe in Jesus through the testimony of these people close to Jesus. That is the point of verse 20. So what is Jesus’ request of the Father on our behalf? He prayed that all of us who believe in Jesus would be one. That means that at the very heart of Jesus is his desire for all people who follow him to be in harmony with other followers of Jesus. That is the explanation in verse 21. How is that possible? Certainly, he cannot expect us to agree on every little thing all the time. Fortunately, he doesn’t stop there. He explains the purpose or objective of unity among his followers. That objective of Christian harmony is expressed in two statements. The first is at the end of verse 21 where he says, “so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” The second statement in verse 23 echos that objective and adds more. “So that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (v. 23) 

Jesus prayed to the Father that we Christians would be unified and harmonious so that “the world” would believe the Father sent Jesus AND that the Father loves the world. That message echoes John 3:16 doesn’t it? “For God so loved the world . . .” God decided to love the world even though the world does not love God. In fact, Jesus points out in verse 25 that the world does not know God. Jesus is helping us understand an important point of sharing the Good News of Jesus in this prayer. It is critical that those who claim to follow Christ demonstrate love and strive for harmonious relationships with fellow believers. It reveals God’s love to the world and will draw people to Jesus.

Jesus’ prayer for his followers adds the request, “that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. (v. 26) The love that is to lead us to harmony is not from within ourselves and our own capacity. It is the love of Christ that he has shown to us that should, in turn, make a statement to the world that God’s love is available to them. We are going to have our differences. But, the love of Christ should be the primary consideration to keep us from dividing instead of being “one.”

Let us think about Christ’s love for us and pray that the Lord will help it be evident to others that the world may see it and want to receive God’s love toward them.