Vol. 21 No. 21 | May 27, 2019
John 17 is Jesus’s prayer about unity.
Many Bible translations divide the prayer into three parts: Jesus prays about Himself and His relationship with His Father; Jesus prays for His disciples; and Jesus prays for all believers.
As I read the prayer, I couldn’t help but think of the lack of unity that exists in our world today. Nations are spouting threats of violence and war against each other. Our political leaders are spewing destructive words toward the opposition, both treating the other as their enemies. Ongoing battles rage in the streets and all over the media by activists with opposing views on abortion, women’s rights, sexual preferences, war, peace, racial unity…on and on.
But Jesus prayed for unity.
One of the saddest things for me is the daily news that another church has, or is on the verge of, falling apart. One group wants a certain type of worship, while another group wants a different one. One group thinks the leadership is too lenient, another group thinks it’s too rigid. One group insists there is only one “right” Bible translation…on and on.
I drive through various cities and see church after church popping up, some because they want to share Jesus with the community, but many because the members got angry and started their own church. And all the while, most people just want to know God. And we wonder why our kids leaving church.
But Jesus prayed for unity.
It’s easy for us to point fingers at a particular church group, political party, or individual and blame them for what is wrong with the world. But when Jesus prayed in John 17, He was praying for all of us to unite and practice tolerance for others’ perspectives and conventions.
As I read through the prayer again this morning, this song started playing in my head: If We’ve Ever Needed You (Casting Crowns).
“Lord, we do need You, and we need you now to help us be the people we claim to be. Help us to remember what You said.”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment.
The second is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
And additional commandments follow the same theme:
“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 that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John17:3)
Remember Jesus prayed for unity. We owe it to him to practice tolerance and stand together…instead of falling apart.
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