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. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world 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 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.”
Now Jesus directs His prayers specifically... to us! To all future believers! He prays for our oneness, our perfect unity bound by the spiritual truth that saves, our future presence with Him and our mutual love.
Notice v23 and the reason for Jesus' prayer for unity among believers (emphasis mine)... May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
The reason for our unity is crystal clear. In our unity we will be able to share the gospel in a way that is believable.
When the body of Christ bickers over trivial matters, we trample the gospel under our feet.
But when we are unified, the world will know the truth. Because we will be able to present it without tarnishing it by our sinful divisiveness.
Those are big stakes.
Tomorrow's scripture focus: John 18:1-11
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