The Unity of the Body
“Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.” John 17:11
Oh, that we might be so united as to fulfill this prayer of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, today.
I love the prayer of Jesus in John 17. It is remarkable. What I love most about this prayer is simply who and what Jesus prays for.
He prays for His disciples, asking God not to remove them from the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
Jesus prays not only for the disciples, but “for all who will ever believe in me through their message” (John 17:20).
That’s me! If you believe in Christ as your Savior, that’s you, too!
Jesus prayed for us—all those years ago.
He prayed that we would all be one.
And, He didn’t just stop there.
He prayed, “that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you.”
He prayed, “May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:23). I don't know if you've ever really given that much thought, but God loves you every bit as much as He loves Jesus! That just blows my mind.
He prays for His disciples, asking God not to remove them from the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
Jesus prays not only for the disciples, but “for all who will ever believe in me through their message” (John 17:20).
That’s me! If you believe in Christ as your Savior, that’s you, too!
Jesus prayed for us—all those years ago.
He prayed that we would all be one.
And, He didn’t just stop there.
He prayed, “that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you.”
He prayed, “May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:23). I don't know if you've ever really given that much thought, but God loves you every bit as much as He loves Jesus! That just blows my mind.
Oh, that we might be so united as to fulfill this prayer of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, today.
Comments