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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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John 17:20-21
“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.”
Unity.
Synergy. If we work together, the influence, the effect, and the results are greater than the sum of the individual parts. The ancient world realised the importance of working together at Babel (see Genesis 11). In recent years we have called this ‘synergy’.
God recognised it as the ‘natural’ way at Babel. At that time He chose to separate the people – now Jesus wants to bring them back together again.
Is that inconsistent? Of course, not. God had always intended for mankind to live in harmony and unity but sin and rebellion spoilt all that – hence Babel. Jesus was to pay the price for sin, selfishness, and rebellion and so usher in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is not built on arrogance and ambition, but on humility and service.
This prayer of Jesus, which John recorded and highlighted for us, demands greater study. It is Jesus’ last recorded prayer (excluding the ones in the Garden and on the Cross). Some believe it is therefore of even greater significance since it is often at the end of a person’s life that they stress what they feel is of the greatest importance. (Needless to say, we should study all of Jesus’ prayers, not just the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ in Matthew 6:9-15.)
I have highlighted these two verses because they encapsulate the plan and heart of God – of Father, Son and Holy Spirit – it’s a ‘Ring of Truth’! If we really got a handle on these two verses, they would change us and the world through us.
Jesus began by praying for His (11) disciples.
In our verse for today, He prayed for all “those who will believe in Me through their message.” Do you realise that includes you and me? Plus all those whom we will tell about Jesus? Jesus is looking down through all the centuries from the time of His crucifixion to the time of His Second Coming. Isn’t that terrific? He was praying then for us. And He still is. “Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25). That is His current High Priestly role.
But there is an implication in the prayer. Those “who will believe in Me through their message.” Jesus never expected us to keep the ‘Good News’ to ourselves – it is incumbent upon us to tell others. If we don’t tell… we nullify His prayer. But also by implication, if we do tell the message – others will believe – because God always honours His Word and it – “will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”, i.e. new believers (Isaiah 55:11).
Jesus constantly declared His Divinity. He constantly claimed to be God. So here too. “That (they) may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You.” Not only was He Godlike – He is God. He was claiming equality and unity with Father. BUT He wanted that unity for us as well. Not just between Jesus and us but also between us, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and His Father – that is awesome.
And why does He want that? For the Father’s joy – yes. For the Son’s satisfaction – yes. For our blessing – yes. But even more than that. So the world will know He is God (The Father sent Him), “You have sent Me.”
Conversely, through our disunity – the world will not recognise that Jesus is God. They won’t know.
Hey – what message are you giving out? How unified is your church fellowship? And how unified are the Christians in your town?
What message is the world getting?
Lastly, ask yourself – “How many will believe through my message?”
“How many will believe through our message?”
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