“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21.
Jesus now opens up a whole new aspect of the meaning of being a Christian, He is now praying for all Christians.
This encompasses all believers from the day of Pentecost through the present day. This group of believers is known as the body of Christ.
The common view of the church is that it is some sort of loose consortium where folks of like mind gather to worship and serve Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
And part of the glory of the church is that it is a place where people of different backgrounds come together as brothers and sisters in Christ to glorify Him.
The problem is that many of today’s Christians feel that church is a place to gather as long as it suits their fancy, and if they do not get some entertainment value, they go to another church looking for something more appealing.
If a church does not preach the gospel, if the doctrine is wrong, or there is some open sin going on without recognizing it as such; it needs to be dealt with, or leave if there is no way of resolution.
It is not right to remain silent or stay in a church that leads people astray, just as it is not right to leave just because you do not like the choir.
“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17.
Jesus prayed in John 17:21, “…that they all may be one”, so the church, or rather the body of Christ, is not meant to be a loose group of Christians from different backgrounds who come and go as they please.
“…with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:2-6.
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14.
To illustrate just how unified the body of Christ is supposed to be, it has been compared to a building and its members as stones in that building.
“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:1-5.
While it can be said that this building is seen as perfect by God through Christ His Son. The same cannot be said of the world’s view of it.
Since the church would be built up from many stones, can you see what a huge building it would be in the eyes of the world? This building would be so strong that Christ could say the following.
“…upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18b, KJV.
This church is not the medieval church which grew through fear and intimidation, killing and torturing all who would question its false edicts.
That church was led by ungodly men who had worked their way into the church hierarchy and turned it into a church of Satan to destroy Christianity.
There were and are many Christians within that church who worked to spread the gospel of Christ, to minister to the sick and the poor; and Jesus says of them.
“But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine [doctrines of Jezebel vs. 20], and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they call them, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come.” Revelation 2:24-25.
Christ’s church is not a building like the lofty cathedrals throughout Europe, it is the body of believers who are the church and have changed history.
History was changed forever when the church was established by the Apostles of Christ from about 33 A. D. to 100 A. D. and certainly the persecuted church that battled wild beasts in the coliseum from 100-312 A. D.
Then Satan slowly moved ungodly men into the church to insert his own doctrines and from 312-1750 A. D. it was polluted irretrievably.
While the Reformation did some good it soon became nothing more than dead state churches with many of their pastors being unsaved blind men leading the blind.
It was the dead Reformation state churches and the Catholic Church that persecuted the Christians who came to America to gain freedom of religion.
It was the memory of this persecution that inspired the framers of the U. S. Constitution to add the First Amendment to the Constitution:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
This is the first of the first ten Amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, ratified effective December 15, 1791.
Church history has been a disappointment from just before the dark ages to the present, only one modern period stands out above them all; the Great Awakening, 1750-1925 A. D.
This was a period of unprecedented missionary work when the Holy Spirit was working mightily in the hearts of men and women who had a love for the lost, bringing millions to Christ.
Again Satan, through the teachings of God hating men diluted the Scriptures with their poisonous liberal doctrines, denying the virgin birth, Jesus’ miracles, the Incarnation, even allegorizing the Bible to mere stories, and making it gobbledygook.
They have done their jobs well, earning their places in hell and the black nothingness of eternity.
Credulity on the part of seminaries, and pastors, along with Christians who depended on being spoon fed rather than studying God’s word on their own has brought us to this state of heretical church doctrine. Of this period called Laodicea which began around 1925 through today, Jesus says this:
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew [vomit] you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16.
While the liberal churches cannot be changed, it does not mean that Christian churches cannot preach the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and show the world what a unified Christian front representing Christ looks like.
It would indeed be glorious to see this huge building of living stones rise up in the midst of the rubble of this world’s moral decay. It is sure that no one could miss the sight of it; whether they love it or hate it.
Is this too much to ask, are we qualified to undertake such a task?
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10.
Christians are qualified to undertake the task of becoming such a holy building because they are a royal priesthood with authority to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But, this takes a dedication not often seen these days. Pray that the Holy Spirit will make this possible.
The cost of becoming a building that stands above all other things of the world is high, for the attitude of all within the body of Christ would have to be one of, lowliness, gentleness, longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.
“endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”, as outlined in Ephesians 4 quoted earlier.
This would also include laying aside all malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as quoted from 2 Peter earlier. This nearly impossible task is accomplished by following Jesus and Him alone.
“…if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:21-24.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.
The face that we see in the mirror in this verse is that of Jesus Christ and as we behold that image, we become more and more like the One we see in the mirror.
This is a lovely picture of how the Christian becomes more Christlike; by reading Scripture and becoming familiar with who Jesus really is.
Such things as kindness, gentleness, longsuffering, and peace are demonstrated to be part of who He is, and in time they become our own personality traits.
Have you ever thought, “I have had a successful life (or an unsuccessful one), but I do not feel as though I have accomplished much”, “My life has been one of ongoing and unrelenting misery, great joy, or one of plodding day after day.”
You have the potential to do more with what is left of your life than most of the world’s greatest men who ever lived; but it is no easy task.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
Olympic athletes give their all to win at the games. Those who train to become a seamless part of the building of God need to do so with the same enthusiasm and discipline.
While it is the job of the church leadership to lead the flock (like a coach), it is up to each individual to respond to the word of God; which is between them and God.
The Apostle Paul also says this of himself.
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14.
The last phrase of John 17:21 states:
“…that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21.
It is important that the church be one in Christ Jesus (not ecumenicalism, invaded by ungodly men). It is the testimony and example of Christians that convinces the world that Jesus and God the Father are one.
Not that Jesus is a son of God, but that He is the eternal self existent One who was with God the Father from eternity past. So Christians must be one as the body of Christ and one in its proclamation of Christ as God’s Son given for the sin of the world.
“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:22-23.
“…the glory which You gave Me I have given them”, the glory of Christ was to show the world God the Father in human form.
The glory which the Christian possesses has been defined in Vine’s Expository Dictionary: “that of the character and ways of God as exhibited through Christ to and through believers.”
As the Christian hears Christ’s Spirit within him and learns of Jesus, and is changed by this knowledge of Christ’s person and then shows Christ to the world the Christian is glorified in Christ and God in Christ is glorified in the Christian.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7.
Do not say, I am just a child, just a woman, just a man in an unimportant job; yes, we are nothing but earthen vessels, but fix your eyes on Jesus, it is He who will use a weak piece of pottery to do mighty things.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a.
This glory creates a oneness within the body of Christ a unity in the Spirit; “…that they may be one just as We are one.” “I in them, and You in Me”, the believer has both God the Father and God the Son dwelling within them in the person of the Holy Spirit; “I in them and You in Me; the entire Godhead.
Unity in Christ is supernatural and is something that the world cannot explain apart from God in Christ; something they loathe to admit.
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24.
Again, the eternal Son is in view here, “…You have loved Me before the foundation of the world.” Christ is eternal. The angels were created, they are not from eternity past, and Satan, destined for the lake of fire is a created being, far inferior to his Creator God.
The Lord’s request of the Father is that all believers will join Him in heaven to see His glory; this will be something that words cannot express, however it is said of the Christian.
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3.
There is coming a day, maybe soon, when:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.
Then the prayer will have been answered, “…that they may behold My glory which You have given Me.” though we see Him now darkly, but then, face to face.
“O righteousness Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:25-26.
The Father is addressed as righteous Father because He will judge in righteousness the world which rejects Him and His Son Jesus Christ.
This ends Jesus’ High Priestly prayer, they now cross the Brook Kidron toward the Garden of Gethsemane; it is mere hours before He is arrested.
Those Who Will Believe, John 17:20-26 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 5-23-13, updated on 3-24-18.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.