By Dr. Marlin Hotle
John 17:20-23 - "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (NKJV)
Wow, what a prayer! As you study the seventeenth chapter of John, often referred to as the “High Priestly Prayer,” you discover what I believe to be the deepest and richest chapter in the Bible. One of the primary subjects of the prayer is Jesus asking that we might be sanctified, or set apart, just as He had been. Jesus longs that we know what it is to be totally surrendered and consecrated to God. He makes it clear that being sanctified brings about a oneness with God that mirrors the oneness of the Trinity: a oneness of purpose, affection and will.
It is a prayer for unity. This unity, of course, has at its’ center that we are at one with He and the Father. But this unity is also meant to reach vertically as well. As mind boggling as it is, it seems that He is asking that the unity experienced by the Trinity open its’ arms to include the Church as well. Why? So that the world may know the power and truth of His transforming love! This king of unity is not simply an artificial ecumenical coming together where we all join arms and sing Kum-by-ya! It is something that goes much deeper.
We Should Be United by What We Believe.
This is not to say that we must believe everything alike. That has never happened, nor will it happen until we all get to heaven. But the core truths that God has laid down in His Word are non-negotiable. It is not a pick and choose Gospel. It has been stated in various ways, but the motto adopted by our church from its’ beginning must always guide us: “In essentials, unity; In non-essentials, charity; in all things, Love!”
We Should Be United by Who We Belong To.
We do not always agree with every member of our earthly family. But, if it is a healthy family, there is a love and bond that cannot be severed by disagreement. We may fight with a brother or sister, but are quick to come their defense if someone else says anything about them. Why? Because they are our family and we still love them. The same should be even more true for the Family of God. We are to share each other’s burdens, and quickly come to each other’s aid. We are to love one another enough to speak the truth if we see our brother or sister headed for danger. If we belong to the same Father, we are family!
We Are United by Those We are Trying to Save.
More than once, Jesus makes clear that the reason He is praying for the unity of the Church is so that the world will believe He was sent from God and will hear the message. If we are only united by what we believe, we will soon find ourselves arguing over what we don’t believe alike. If we are only united by Who we belong to, we may soon be arguing like we do with our siblings. But when we are united by who we are trying to save, it brings us together like nothing else.
I remember being with my father and another minister several years ago when we came upon a terrible accident. Four college girls were headed back to school when their van had hit a patch of ice and rolled over in the median. One of the girls had been partially thrown from the vehicle but her leg was still van caught in the door. The weight of the vehicle was severing her leg and causing her to cry out in pain. Mark and I ran over to see if we could help. We were soon joined by a black man and a rough looking trucker. Without discussing it, the three of us grabbed the van and lifted it enough that Mark could pull her free. We didn’t stop to ask what the black man or trucker believed or what political party they voted for. We were focused on a young lady who was hurting.
If you listen closely to our Lord’s prayer, that is what He is asking for. He prays that we would be so focused on reaching those He was soon to die for, that His death would not be in vain. If you fully surrender to God and His will, you can be sure that He wants to use you to save those He loves!
Oh Lord, make us one!
If you are following our “Daily Bible-Reading Plan,” today's passages are John 17 & Psalm 86.