John 17:20-26: a reflection

20“Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one; even 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. 22The glory which you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one, 23I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved me. 24Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. 26I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

On the night before he died, Jesus prayed not only for his disciples then present, but for all who would believe in him through their word, that is, for us. And the burden of his prayer was unity: I pray 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 sent me. Jesus prayed that his people would be one, modeled on the unity of Father and Son, and for a purpose: that the world might believe.

Notice what Jesus prayed for us: that we would be one. Of all he could have asked for his future people, he prayed for our unity, a unity so deep it reflects the oneness of Father and Son. And he tied it to the church's witness: that the world may believe. The unity of Jesus' people is not a minor matter; it was the burden of his prayer, and it bears on whether the world believes the gospel.

That gives weight to the unity of God's people. It is easy to treat division among Christians lightly, to nurse our disagreements and factions. But Jesus prayed that we would be one, and he tied our unity to the world's believing. Our disunity dishonors his prayer and hinders our witness; our unity answers his prayer and commends the gospel. Take seriously the unity of God's people, for which Jesus prayed. Do your part to pursue it, to heal division, to love your fellow believers across the lines that divide, so that the world, seeing our oneness, may believe. Christ prayed that we would be one; let us not treat lightly what he prayed for so earnestly.

Lord Jesus, on the night before you died, you prayed for all who would believe in you, that we would be one, as you and the Father are one, so that the world might believe. Help me take seriously the unity for which you prayed. It is easy to treat division among your people lightly, to nurse disagreements and factions. But you prayed that we would be one, and tied our unity to the world's believing. Keep me from dishonoring your prayer through division. Help me do my part to pursue unity, to heal division, to love my fellow believers across the lines that divide, so that the world, seeing our oneness, may believe you were sent. You prayed so earnestly that we would be one; help me not treat lightly what you desired, but work for the unity of your people.