John 17

Jesus Prays for Unity

Going to the Symphony

We often attend concerts by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Before a concert begins orchestra members file in randomly and begin to tune up and prepare. During this time the sound they make is not the music you expect. All you hear is random notes and scales being played by all the instruments separately. It is a cacophony of noise. 

Suddenly the noise stops as the concertmaster walks on stage. Then the principal oboist plays an “A” tuning note, and the concertmaster raises his violin and strikes the same note. Instantly all the musicians join as they all tune to the same note. Unity prevails as the conductor then takes his place.

Jesus Prays for Unity

I thought of this experience as I read Jesus’ final prayer as recorded in John 17. This is the last time he addresses his followers, and one of his main themes is for unity among his disciples then and those who follow Jesus today.

It is often hard to find unity as you look across the church landscape, isn’t it? Denominations splitting apart over doctrinal issues. Church members fighting over non-essentials. Church history is marked by strife and disunity.

So does this mean Jesus’ prayer is being answered? Or did he pray for something different than having all believers agree on all topics? Let’s explore this by looking at three ways Jesus describes how his followers would be unified: 1. We share eternal life. 2. We share the Holy Spirit, and 3. We are not of this world.

We Share Eternal Life

In John 17:3, Jesus defines eternal life this way, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Today, many people know about Jesus or are familiar with his name, but they have their own idea of who he is or was – a good man, some guy in the Bible. But this is not the kind of knowledge Jesus describes.

Jesus makes it clear that he is the only way to know the Father. And he tells us that the moment we come to faith in the Father through the Son, we begin to share in God’s eternal life. So he prays that, as our understanding of eternal life grows, it will bring us closer to the Father and, in turn, with all those who share this great promise.  

We Share the Father’s Heart

In John 17:19-20 Jesus says he and the Father are one, and prays that all believers may share this unity, “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me, and I am in You.”

When we receive Jesus as our savior we are given the Holy Spirit who brings us into complete unity with the Father. Jesus is not praying for us to be unified with each other. He is calling for us as believers to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us into complete unity with the heart of the Father.

We are Not of This World

Jesus makes it clear that we are called out of this world when we receive Christ as our savior. Theologians define the world as “those who live as if there is no God.” Jesus warns that the world will hate believers because it hates Jesus himself.

But he also prays that God will protect us and set us apart. He is able to protect us because Jesus overcame the world through his completed work on the cross. Therefore, as the Body of Christ, we are set apart from the world and unified so that we may pursue a holy purpose.

Our Unity in a World of Disunity

Imagine how that symphony would sound if each of the musicians played different tunes. It would be that cacophony of noise we heard when we entered the concert hall during warmups. Not enriching or beautiful.  

What notes are you playing? Do you insist on tooting your own horn and drowning out others? Are you trying to play with the world’s band all week and with God on Sunday? Or maybe you are not sure what tune God is calling you to play.

Remember, God has given each of us different instruments to play depending on our various experiences, our unique gifts, and our different callings.

 To play our best, He first wants us to be in tune with Him through the Holy Spirit. And then to ask Him to help us play our instrument so well that we become part of that beautiful symphony He designed for us to share with the world.

Maranatha

Andy