John 17:20-26
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, 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. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Jesus, now only hours away from the cross, takes time to speak to the Father about you and me. This tells us that even in facing the cross we were in his mind. When I was in basic training for the Army I often thought about my wife and children. I let the happy thought of reunion with them carry me through the toughest times. Jesus let the thought of us being united with him carry him through the cross. Hebrews 12:2, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Even now Jesus is praying for us, Hebrews 7:25, “He (Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Jesus knew that the disciples were about to desert him. But he also knew that they would return and serve as witnesses. Psalm 22:31, “They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,
That He has done this.
Jesus prayed for our unity. Looking at the Christian world with all its denominations and schisms it looks like there is no unity. But all that is only appearance. Jesus knows whom the Father has given to him. In Christ we are all one blood, Christ’s blood. The visible church is a fractured mess but the invisible church is one.
The continuance and unity of the message about Jesus is a proof of God’s power in the world. How many times throughout history have governments, religions, and philosophies tried to put Christianity away? We are still here, proof that God loves us.
Have you ever been in a group or crowd where you don’t know anyone there? Isn’t that awkward. It’s such a relief to spot a familiar face, someone we can say, I’m with them. It would be unbearable to be in heaven and feel out of place but that cannot happen because we will be with Jesus. He will find us and bring us to the family dinner table and make sure everyone knows we’re with him.
Jesus calls God Righteous Father. The world knows nothing of righteousness except for those Jesus has called out of the world and shown the Father to them. The world confuses law with righteousness. They believe that following the law makes one righteous. It does not. Righteousness is God’s goodness which is his glory, It is the Light of Life. The declaration of God’s goodness towards us puts God’s love in our hearts. God is love. God’s love in our hearts is God himself in our hearts.
brotherpayne 