John 17 is a fascinating passage of Scripture.  It is often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer and is believed to be a portion of the prayer that Jesus prayed while in the Garden of Gethsemanee.  Let’s take a look at it together today.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 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. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Jesus prays for the disciples and then prays for all believers who will hear the message and believe, meaning us.  There are a lot of things that Jesus could have prayed for us.  It is interesting that the one thing He does pray for is unity.  That we would be unified with Him and also unified with one another.  Unity is a powerful force.  Teams that are unified are difficult to beat.  Companies that are unified are typically very successful.  Families that are unified are beautiful to observe.  The same is true about us as followers of Jesus.  When we are unified we can be a powerful, beautiful force that can accomplish great things for God and share the love of Jesus really well.  When we are not unified it can be a struggle and the world is less interested in what we have to say about Jesus and the life of faith.  I pray today that Jesus’ prayer all those years ago would be powerful in our lives.  That we might be one just as Jesus and the Father are one. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave