Jesus Prayed for Our Unity - Why?

Within just a few hours of going to the cross, Jesus prayed for the unity of those who would follow Him. Three of the gospels tell us that Jesus prayed to be relieved of the burden of going to a death by crucifixion. Yet, He relented and obeyed God the Father knowing that is was necessary. There was no other way that broken, self-centered, sin-filled mankind could be forgiven and restored to a relationship with the perfect God that made us. It is this same God, the One and only, that we ignore most of the time attempting to find ways to fulfill our emptiness with everything else except Him.

Jesus agreed to complete the task that He descended to earth to carry out. Only the gospel [good news] of John lets us in on His prayer that His followers would be unified as He and God the Father were one. One what? Only a fool would claim that we could be God like They are God. Only within Christianity is there a One God made of several beings or persons. Odd. Christianity is a pluralistic monotheism. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit combine to make up the One God of the Bible. God has chosen to reveal Himself in this magnificent work of literature that tells His story of creation, fall/rebellion, redemption/restoration, and the future end of the universe and beginning of a new eternal one that will no longer contain flaws--sin.

Still, one what? Jesus prayed that we would be one as He and the Father are one. The church: Jesus' followers; is disjointed, schismatic, separated, split, denominationalized, protested, reformed, argumentative, individualistic, etc. Many churches or groups of churches claim to be the one true church. So all the others must be wrong. We have many First Church of somethings and a few seconds, but I don't know of any thirds, fourths or higher numbers. Churches argue over many differing doctrinal issues: end times, spiritual gifts, free will versus predestination, types of atonement, how far the redemption applies, etc. ad nausea. There is some unity about Whom Jesus is and that He alone can save lost souls. His death, burial and resurrection tie us together.

But did Jesus' prayer fail. It doesn't look like Christ's followers are one of anything. All seems divided. We are all one big fight. Did the Father say "No" to Jesus' prayer? Where is the evidence of this oneness? Are we to do something to be an answer to this prayer? Is that why John included it? Jesus prayed that we would be one so that the world "may know that you [Father] sent me [Jesus] and loved them [Christ followers] even as you loved me." No wonder the world has such a difficult time believing our message as we live divided and proclaim that Jesus is the only way to God.

What are we to do to be one as He prayed for us?
Can you imagine how messed up things would be if Jesus had not prayed for our unity?

We do see glimpses of this unity when we surrender the things that divide us and focus on the centrality of Jesus to our faith. It is only when we surrender our arrogance and learn to lovingly care for one another that we see lived out an answer to this prayer. It is only when we commune and serve together for the glory of God and not ourselves that we see why He prayed for unity and oneness. There is incredible joy in seeing this prayer answered in the affirmative around and through us.

What walls do we need to take down to make John 17 a reality?
Who do you need to work with, serve alongside, forgive, apologize to in order to bring about Jesus' desire?



P.S. Happy 49th anniversary to my Mom & Dad. That's unity. It is a little taste of heaven here on this divisive, divided planet.