David Bahn – Reflections

John 17:20-26

²⁰“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus’ final thoughts in his High Priestly Prayer focuses on his desire for our blessings through the word and ministry of the 12 apostles. He prays that those who believe in him by means of the apostles’ witness would be one – one with him and each other, just as he is one with the Father, and the Father is one with Jesus.

Jesus’ desire and prayer is no small prayer request! To be one in the same manner that Jesus and the Father are one means that we are of one substance, one in will and purpose, one in faith and love. That means we don’t blink when offered the opportunity to love the sinner, we don’t turn away from the challenging difficulty of doing the will of God – even when the sacrifice necessary to do so is great. It means that we are completely given to the mission of God to save the world, and we are working toward that goal with all our heart.

This is only possible as we lay hold of our identity as children of God and representatives of the King. We are given our identity as children of God by the Father, by grace. We live that out in faithful obedience to the Father’s will. We don’t attain our identity by means of our obedience, but we don’t fully live out our identity apart from obedience to the Father. As representatives of the King of kings, we have authority and power to advance the cause of God’s mission, and see the Kingdom of God advanced in the world.

The question is, therefore, “How are we doing in this area of unity?” For most of us, it is a matter of keeping this goal and calling on the radar screen more than a matter of willful disobedience. Too often we are simply not intentional about our faith. Today would be a good day to be intentionally united with Jesus and all our brothers and sisters in Christ to see God’s kingdom advance in the world around us. Are we ready to look and work for this – intentionally?

John 17:20-26

²⁰“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. ²⁴Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”