Scripture Reading(s)
John 17:20-26
17:20 “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word,
17:21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, 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.
17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one,
17:23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
17:24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
17:25 “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.
17:26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Reflections
As Christians we all have to answer the call to mirror Christ living in and through our lives to the rest of the world. This passage speaks about people needing to know that Christ lives in us. As Christians we have the gift of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts daily to bring us closer to Him and be more like Him. Our actions are to cause for others to look and notice Christ-like attributes residing in our hearts. The world is constantly placing Christians under a microscope and this should neither scare us or bring us discomfort. In fact, it should cause us to use our lives as an opportunity to be a living testimony to what Christ has done for us. The key foundation to all of this is having a love for God and the people of God.
One of my friends just recently shared a story with me about her 5 year old daughter. Her daughter is best friends with their next door neighbour who is 7 years old and is much taller then she is. One day, while they were playing, her daughter turned to her neighbour and said “do you know Jesus? Because I am going to leave and I want you to come with me.” Such simple and yet wise words that her 5 year old spoke that day. Her daughter simply loved her best friend enough to share with her about God and has a huge desire to see her become a Christian too.
Verse 23 sums up this point very well ” I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” We are called to love God and as a result the outflow of that would be to love others. We all have our different comfort levels and it is not easy to share the message of the Gospel. Yet we need to trust that God is going to use us in a way that will bring about His desired goal: bringing lost souls to Christ.
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart
Bless Your name, bless Your name, Jesus
And the deeds of the day and the truth in my ways
Speak of You, speak of You, Jesus
Lyrics by: Tim Hughes
I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:23)
John 17 gives us a rare glimpse inside of Jesus’ prayer life. It should come as no surprise that Jesus’ prayer is centered around the great two laws,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39)
Jesus’ prayer could have been for any of his own many needs. But He instead intercedes for all men and women that they could become one with God, as He is one with God. It is this oneness that displays to the world who God is and how much He loves us. I am reminded of the words of Moses on top the mount,
Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15-16)