Prayer for Unity
Alan Rouse
The time was at hand. The time, of all times. All the forces of evil were mustered for a final desperate assault on the destiny of mankind, in a life and death struggle against the Son of God. In a short while our Lord would deliver himself on the evening of the Passover, as the true Lamb of God, giving up his life for the sins of the world. He knew exactly what was coming to him. And he knew equally well what was at stake for us. As the hour approached, he showed his disciples the full extent of his love.
Through the apostle John we get a glimpse into the heart of Jesus on that fateful night. He performed an act of humble service as an example to be followed. He called upon his disciples to love one another. Three times on this one occasion he repeated the command to love one another. He encouraged them to be faithful and promised to send them them a Counselor. He prepared their hearts for what was about to happen. And then he looked toward heaven and prayed.
As the Lamb of God continued his prayer, he said:
(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.
Considering all the things that Jesus might have prayed for on this occasion, it is quite significant that his mind was on unity. Jesus pleads for unity among all those who would believe in him, "so that the world may believe". The belief of the world is at stake! As we reflect back on his sacrifice of love, we should remember his earnest plea for unity. Let's be resolved to work for the complete unity of all believers in Jesus!