THEY MAY BE ONE AS WE ARE ONE 

John 17:20-26 / Keywords 17:22

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:

 

Jesus Prays for All Believers

17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 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 that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Footnotes

e. John 17:26 Greek your name

1. Jesus prayed for his future disciples (us) to be one. This unity does not refer to social unity. It is the unity of believers whom Jesus has redeemed through his blood. Everyone needs unity with our Father God and the Son, submitting their self-centered desires to God’s will and having the same spirit, love, and purpose of Christ. When we are transformed in Christ from what we were, we will see the world from God’s perspective and live according to God’s words and will. We will be one as the Father and the Son are one. The unity of believers from all walks of life is a witness of Jesus Christ to others.

 

2. Jesus prayed also that we would be with him in the kingdom to come. He really wanted to share his glory with us. What a glorious day it will be as we shall see his glory and share in it.

 

3. Jesus also prayed for us to continue to know the Father. The goal in the Christian life is to grow in our relationship with God, for this is eternal life through Jesus Christ (3). Jesus promised that he would continue to make God known to us and that he himself would come to dwell in us.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to pursue Christian unity and come to know you ever more.

One Word Unity in Christ