Friday, January 15

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 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. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 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.  - John 17:20-23

Let’s not forget that Jesus prayed this prayer on the last night of his life before his death. This prayer stands as a citadel for all Christians to live unified and in harmony with one another.

How precious are Jesus’ words? Knowing the end was near, Jesus prayed one final time for his followers. Striking, isn’t it? With death breathing down his neck, Jesus prayed not for our success, our safety, or our happiness. He prayed for our unity, as we would fulfill his purpose. He prayed that we would love each other, as we went forward to love the world to him. He prayed for his disciples and for all those who would come to faith in Jesus Christ, becoming his followers. That means you and me. In his last prayer Jesus prayed that you and I be one.

The same unity personified in the Godhead (vv. 11, 21, 22). The unity that God desires for the body of Christ is based on a unity that already exists in heaven between the three persons of the Trinity. God does not have to manufacture unity between himself, his Son, and the Holy Spirit— they’re already unified. The Godhead is the evidence of unity.

In one sense, Christians are already unified because we are a part of the same spiritual family. We enjoy an essential unity on that basis alone. Christian unity is not based on externals of the flesh but the internal working of the Spirit in our hearts, lives, and communities. God is giver of unity. The Puritan preacher, George Newton, wrote, “There is no possibility of having peace, unless God himself bestow it; unless he bow the heavens and come down, and work it in the hearts of his people. It is beyond the power of any creature to keep the saints themselves in unity and peace, unless God himself do it.”

From this reality of unity, Jesus prays for unity among believers (vv. 11, 21, 22, 23). The English Standard Version translates verse 23 as “. . . that they may become perfectly one.” When Jesus prays for something four times he is making a major plea. Jesus does not take unity lightly? It is of a major concern for him. It should be for us as well.

How do we become the answer to Jesus’ prayer for unity?

1.       Pray with integrity for unity. We want our unity to be real, genuine, in other words, not fake or pretentious. It is easy to pray for unity and be self-righteous. If we pray for unity and are at war with another believer, we are hypocritical.

2.       Pray within the family, both our physical and spiritual families, for unity. Often individual families are at odds with each other. Before we pray for the church family to be unified we need to pray for unity in our family. Then, we are to pray for the church family that we will reflect the unity as demonstrated in the Godhead.

3.       Pray in practice for unity. Pray together with other Christians for unity. It would be incongruous to pray for unity among God’s people and do it alone. Praying together recognizes our deep need for one another.

Unity matters to God. Twice Jesus says that the reason we are to unite as believers is as a witness to a watching world. Jesus prays, “. . . so the world may believe You sent Me. . . so the world may know You have sent Me” (vv. 21, 23). The reputation of God is at stake. When Christians stand together in unity, they bear living proof of the truth of the gospel. A unified church will convince people that there is a God in heaven. Unity creates belief.

If unity creates belief, then disunity fosters disbelief. How can the world come to believe the gospel if those who already believe it are battling among themselves? When the world sees denominational leaders fighting over control, or young and old members of the same congregation dueling over worship styles, or a church splitting over the color of the new carpet, it says, “Thanks, but no thanks.” When Christians splinter over frivolous and nonessential issues, observers have reason to doubt the validity of the gospel. Is it fair to say that one of the hindrances of people being drawn into evangelical churches today is the way we treat one another?

Pastor Jeff Frazier