THE ISSUE OF UNITY [JOHN 17:20-26]
05JUN
THE ISSUE OF UNITY [JOHN 17:20-26]
In this last part of John 17, Jesus prays for His future disciples – all the women and men in future ages who will believe through the message proclaimed by His first disciples. We (you and I) are one of those people! We are one of those future disciples for whom Jesus prayed. So, as we read this part of Jesus’ prayer, take a close look at what it is that Jesus wants for each and everyone of us.
Jesus wants His disciples – all of us – to be in unity with one another as we are also in unity with Him and His Father. The calling to be united with Him and the Father is awesome enough, but how much more awesome – and how much more challenging – is the call to be united with one another. Knowing that Jesus prayed for this kind of unity can give us confidence that is really can happen, especially when we think of those circumstances in which we don’t feel united as believers.
Why does Jesus take the issue of unity so seriously? Of all the things He could have prayed for on His last night on earth, why did He choose to pray for this? There must be many reasons, but one the most important ones is because He knew that our witness of love and mercy toward one another could change the whole world. He knew that our unity in Christ is one of the most important dimensions of EVANGELIZATION. Actions always speak louder than words, and when we show the world that people from so many different backgrounds and cultures can come together, we are showing them nothing less than the power of divine love.
Finally, Jesus prayed that the very love that the Father has for Him may be in us. Try to imagine the immensity of the Father’s love for Jesus. This is the same love that Jesus wants each of us to know! In prayer today, let us take time to rest in this love and to let the experience of this love flow over us. We will know that as we do, it will empower us to seek the unity that Jesus deeply desires – and to become a light to the whole world (Matthew 5:14-16).
Jakarta, 5 June 2014
A Christian Pilgrim
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