One of the pleasures of reading John’s gospel is the inclusion of small details from his personal observation. His first-hand evidence is enhanced by what seems to be insignificant information but which adds first hand authenticity and gives the reader a sense of being there themselves. In this way John differs from writers such as Luke who got his information from interviewing first hand witnesses but was not present himself. This is living history from a personal perspective it feels at times like reading a witness statement or a private diary. The different approaches adopted by the gospel writers are important indicators as to their reliability in an age when their historical reliability may be questioned. They are simply not written in the way their contemporary writers would write either an invented story or a fable. They are rooted in the detail of the life and times that demonstrate familiarity with everyday life and places that are frequently verifiable through archaeology. John’s account of Jesus’ arrest is as if he were simply recounting events to friends, including small asides that help fill out the picture.
Reflections on how Jesus’ prayer for believers may affect our lives.
Do we take confidence from knowing that Jesus has prayed for us? Have we aligned our prayers with his?
Are there divisions within our fellowship that you have been in some way responsible for? How can you be a unifying influence within the fellowship? How do you or your church support the wider body of believers? Are the relationships within your church ones that would attract others to faith?
If we are to be at one with someone we must spend time with them and be devoted to them. Have we set appropriate time aside to grow in our oneness with Christ through the Spirit? Have we made a connection between our personal and the church’s “Christ likeness” in our outreach to the world to make disciples?
Does our vision of Jesus give us confidence and boldness to live for him despite opposition?
Jesus wants all his followers to see his glory – John 17:24-26
When Stephen was being tried by the Sanhedrin and they were filled with anger against him, Stephen had a vision of the glory of Jesus. ‘When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of the God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, I see heaven open and the son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ Acts 7:54-56 The vision of Christ’s glory strengthened and comforted Stephen providing him with confidence and filling him with grace that enabled him to pray for the people who were stoning him to death and so he was able to be forgiving as Jesus was at his point of execution. A clear vision of the end of the race, the glory of Christ in heaven and confidence that we will be with him enables the believer to live for Jesus now. It prevents the distraction of being seduced by the corrupt offerings of this world and focuses the believer on the person and character of Christ. Jesus wants to share his glory with all those who follow him. There simply is no greater gift.
Jesus draws a sharp distinction between those who know the Father and those who do not. In general terms the world does not know the Father and if it did it would accept Jesus the Son for who he is. Jesus in his prayer here returns to the opening theme of John’s gospel, John 1:9-11 that the world does not recognise its own Creator even though he had come to reveal himself to them. There are those who do recognise Jesus for who he is and accept him. In this prayer Jesus confirms that he will continue to make himself know beyond his ascension. In knowing him they will know his love which is the same immeasurable love that the Father has for Jesus. v26 Jesus’ work of making disciples will continue throughout the present age and it is a work of love. Peter connects Jesus’ immeasurable love to his desire for people to turn to him for forgiveness and the receipt of eternal life. ‘The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’ 2Peter 3:9
Jesus wants all his followers to be unified with God – John 17:21b-23
Jesus then prays again for unity but this time that the future disciples will have ‘complete unity’v23 with God. Once more he repeats that the purpose of their unity with God is missional, ‘Then the world will know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.’ v23 Jesus quantifies how great the unity he desires between God and his followers to be by praying it will as close a relationship as his own relationship with the Father. He prays that he (Jesus) will be in them in the same way as the Father is in Jesus. This is a conjoining of their spiritual lives. It involves a shared understanding with Jesus along with shared loves, desires and commitments. He wants his followers to know a deep closeness with him and this is to be achieved by the gift of his glory. The term Jesus’ glory may be one that we do not immediately understand because it includes multiple aspects of who Jesus is and what he did. Through our unity with Christ we benefit from and enter into what Jesus achieved through his, “humble incarnation, culminating in his death, resurrection and exaltation.” (NIV Study Bible, 2011) In the same way as Jesus reflected the Father’s glory so Jesus prayed his future disciples would reflect his glory. Paul captures this in 2 Corinthians 3:18, ‘And we all, (notice the “all”) with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.’ From Paul we understand that unity with God is with the whole Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and also that the impact of it causes progressive change into Christ likeness.
Jesus wants all his followers to be one – John 17:21
The first thing Jesus prayed for all believers in him, who were yet to hear the gospel, was that they should be unified or as in the NIV translation, ‘all of them may beone.’ This sets the marker for the importance of Christian unity, it is of first importance. It is the reason why the devil strives to divide believers on any basis e.g. through arguments over minor interpretations of theology – making them of first importance, through the introduction of sin in its many forms into fellowship life, through false teaching and personality cults. How close should the unity of believers be? It is to be as close as God the Father and God the Son are. They are one in the Trinity, each serving the other to the glory of the other. No partiality is shown. When a fellowship is at one, as God the Father and Jesus, there are no loners or in-groups. No one skill set is valued higher than another. The whole body is as dedicated to the Lord’s worship and mission as Jesus was on the way to the cross.
Oneness is not limited to the local fellowship it relates to the wider local area. Fellowships should pray for and practically support each other. My small rural church is deeply grateful for the loving support of other local Christians who regular prepare and lead worship with great humility and dedication. But the oneness of the body of Christ also strongly bears upon the universal church because God does not share the limited focus we so frequently have. God’s vision is not limited by geographical, political or denominational boundaries. For the Father we are all one family as Jesus is his son, so sibling unity is as binding globally as it is locally. The joy of sharing in worldwide fellowship is profound and is something distinctively antiracist that the church has to show the world.
The unity of the church in Christ has a purpose and it is a missional purpose. The purpose of the distinctive unity of the body of believers is so others will believe in Christ. The church’s character is intended to reflect the character of God and therefore reveal God to the world. Where a church is divided upon itself or does not show sacrificial commitment to the wider fellowship of believers it is failing in conveying Christ’s gospel message. Jesus’ words to his disciples were, ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ John 13:34-35
