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Unity (4 of 4)
Series: High Priestly Prayer
Marion Clark
John 17:20-26
Introduction
We come to the final section of Jesus' prayer for his disciples. He has prayed for his own glory to be revealed. He has prayed about his disciples being given to him by his Father. He has prayed for their protection. Now he turns his thoughts to their unity.
Text
What especially catches our attention is that he speaks directly of us.
I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.
For us and his disciples he prays for unity modeled on the unity of the Father and Son that is established in them and based on knowledge of them. This unity is characterized by love, and its purpose is to bear witness to t world for the glory of God.
Jesus Prays for Unity
First, Jesus prays that they and we will be as one.
Verse 21: that they may all be one,
Verse 22: that they may be one even as we are one,
Verse 23: that they may become perfectly one
He had prayed earlier for this in verse 11: ''that they may be one.''
Modeled on the Unity of Father and Son
Jesus presents the relationship between himself and his Father as the model. He did this back in verse 11: (''even as we are one''). He continues to do so in his prayer.
Verse 21: just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you,
Verse 22: even as we are one
There is union of Father and Son that cannot be attained by us simply because we are not part of the Trinity. But, as I suggested before, I think Jesus has in mind the unity of purpose or mindset. What practically united Father and Son was union of will. The Son carried out perfectly the will of the Father. We are called to do their will, or more accurately, we are called to do the will of the Father through our obedience to God the Son, our Lord and Savior. When we move to the letters of the New Testament, we will be instructed repeatedly to act in Christ, by Christ, through Christ. Jesus, recor ...
Series: High Priestly Prayer
Marion Clark
John 17:20-26
Introduction
We come to the final section of Jesus' prayer for his disciples. He has prayed for his own glory to be revealed. He has prayed about his disciples being given to him by his Father. He has prayed for their protection. Now he turns his thoughts to their unity.
Text
What especially catches our attention is that he speaks directly of us.
I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.
For us and his disciples he prays for unity modeled on the unity of the Father and Son that is established in them and based on knowledge of them. This unity is characterized by love, and its purpose is to bear witness to t world for the glory of God.
Jesus Prays for Unity
First, Jesus prays that they and we will be as one.
Verse 21: that they may all be one,
Verse 22: that they may be one even as we are one,
Verse 23: that they may become perfectly one
He had prayed earlier for this in verse 11: ''that they may be one.''
Modeled on the Unity of Father and Son
Jesus presents the relationship between himself and his Father as the model. He did this back in verse 11: (''even as we are one''). He continues to do so in his prayer.
Verse 21: just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you,
Verse 22: even as we are one
There is union of Father and Son that cannot be attained by us simply because we are not part of the Trinity. But, as I suggested before, I think Jesus has in mind the unity of purpose or mindset. What practically united Father and Son was union of will. The Son carried out perfectly the will of the Father. We are called to do their will, or more accurately, we are called to do the will of the Father through our obedience to God the Son, our Lord and Savior. When we move to the letters of the New Testament, we will be instructed repeatedly to act in Christ, by Christ, through Christ. Jesus, recor ...
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