John 17:20-23

John 17:20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 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. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 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.

As Christ expands his prayer for his disciples to include those who will believe in [him] through their message, He reveals the Father's plan to save all people. He has asked the Father to protect [the disciples] from the evil one; now He makes clear, as He has on other occasions, the inclusiveness of his loving kindness and tender mercies: My prayer is not for them alone. Lest his disciples think Christ is setting up a hierarchy with a chosen few at the top to rule in his name; Jesus prays for all who will believe in his message. He lets the disciples know this is the Word of Life they will impart to the world as He tells Father God: I have given them the glory that you gave me, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. Later on through the unction of the Spirit, Paul will also speak of Christ's sacrifice for all people and this ministry of reconciliation, assigned first to the apostles and then to the entire body: For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. . .Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 & 17-19) Jesus asks the Father for the mantle of oneness He wore on Earth to fall upon his ambassadors of love that the world may believe that you have sent me. Again we see the repetition of his words as He says: 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.

Jesus prayed for unity for the disciples and unity for those who would accept their message, so they would know that God loved them even as He loved his only begotten Son. The essence of Christianity remains unchangeable: faith in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross makes us eternally alive through the power of the Holy Spirit, acceptable to God forever. Christ's shed blood as the perfect Lamb ushers us into his family where we bear his name and share in his inheritance despite our former condition as prisoners to sin and death. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7) Through Christ, we come to know the Father, to believe the truth of the Word that they are one; consequently, we are NOW the Children of God, full of his grace and glory, standing in his perfection. Knowing all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), we do not come through our own good deeds or human attainments. We walk by faith because Christ's righteousness is our righteousness, his perfection replaces our imperfection. We tell a world lost in sin, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. . .But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:1 & 5-6) We do not look to people, traditions of men, or institutions for hope or for validation. Christ alone presents us blameless, HOLY, and acceptable to God!

Faith expressing itself through love takes on as many forms as there are members in the body of Christ. Everyone speaks of love; yet our actions and reactions often negate our words. Believers sometimes engage in foolish talk and spew outright vitriol at people or groups with whom we disagree or want to attack without apology. Did someone decide to blot out, Let your gentleness be known to all men (Philippians 4:5) because we can no longer agree to disagree peaceably? Are we feasting on God's Word or bitter fruit? John wrote, test the spirits to see whether they are from God. . .love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:1 &7-12) The Bible is consistent from the Old to the New Testament on loving our neighbors as ourselves. A neighbor is whoever God sends our way. Do we love our enemies, those who take advantage, hate or abuse us? Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18) LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman. (Psalm 15:1-3) We have received so much and have so much to give in return.

Jesus said: You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48) Though debased, humiliated, tortured, and forsaken; Christ died with loving words on his lips: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) Some believers shake their fists in the air, write angry letters, and utter all manner of evil against duly elected officials, knowing full well the Bible says honor those in authority. We seem to care more about ourselves than the poor and the needy, and we speak horrendous words against the alien in our midst when our forbearers all came from somewhere else. The LORD told his chosen people: Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt. If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you (Exodus 22:22-23 and 23: 2 & 9; Leviticus 25:35) Countless scriptures confirm God is love. Therefore, Paul writes, Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32) Yes, this is a strong breakfast, dearly beloved: strong food for strong soldiers of the cross.