In John the disciples account of Easter just prior to Jesus arrest, something is recorded that gives an understanding of Jesus and his relationship with God the Father and also with His followers that is mind boggling and gives an illustration of what Jesus sees His church being…its like His vision for the future church, that body of people from social misfits too social high flyers that would one day be his representatives bringing glory to Him as they go about their everyday lives.
What we find in John 17 verse 20 to 26 is a part of a prayer that Jesus prayed in the upper room for his disciples, were washing of the disciple’s feet and the last supper took place.
Part of that prayer was for those who where not disciples but for those who would follow them, a bit more to the point this prayer was prayed by Jesus for you and I, it’s true Jesus took the time to pray for us just hours before his arrest at that place down in the Kidron Valley. Lets have a look at this part of the gospel. (Read John 17:20-26)
What was it that Jesus had prayed for you and I?
1) Well when we look at verses 20 and 21 we see that Jesus wants us to be one, not just some of us, but all of us, these are the words of Jesus to his and our Father in Heaven that glory might be brought to him after he departs for heaven, and why did Jesus want glory to be brought to him? So that the Father might be glorified. We see even as Jesus was predicting his own death in chapter 12 and he was troubled by it he said; “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ’Father, save me from this hour’? (That was a question, he then answers his own question) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father Glorify your name!” (John 12:27-28).
Here is this man, this very human man faced with a miserable death, knowing that he would like to avoid it, but within this whole picture this scene is something that is bigger than his moment, than this moment that has him troubled. This man is not just, this man…he is one with the Father, he is in all things, he was loved by the Father before the creation of the world (Vs 24) he is one with the Father, his will is the Fathers will, what he does, he does to bring glory to God the Father. It is his desire and his prayer that we will be one with him just as he is one with the Father.
Jesus being one with us and our being one with one another makes life better. What he wants for us is that we will be one that our will, will be his will, that the choices we make are bringing glory to him and because they do God is glorified.
So what does this look like?
2) Well Songwriters: ROGER COOK, ROGER GREENAWAY wrote a song for Blue Mink called Melting Pot, the chorus goes like this,
What we need is a great big melting pot,
Big enough enough enough to take,
The world and all its got And keep it stirring for a hundred years or more,
And turn out coffee coloured people by the score.
Well the oneness of the church, it doesn’t look anything like that, oneness is something that doesn’t come about by us being made into the same race of people, by being mixed up into a standard pattern so that we are all the same. Oneness in God comes from us having the same focus, us all wanting to bring glory to our Saviour, to him who through his willingness to carry our burdens to set us free, gave us freedom.
We have been set free, not so we can get caught up in the barbed wire of life again, so that we are dragged from that freedom that comes through a relationship with him, back to the scuzzeyness of some menial existence that Jesus saved us from.
When we have this oneness, what occurs is a wonderful thing, it is a glorious thing and it is that amazing that the world when it sees it believes that Jesus is who he is! Our oneness is a huge witness. Think about this; you might be concerned in your walk with God that you are not an evangelist, that you don’t have the words to bring another to faith. What is it that Jesus prays in verse 23 “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
The truth is that as Christians our greatest witness is our unity, and our love for one another. Jesus also said “By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John13:35) Down to the nitty gritty of this is that while we do unity and oneness reasonably well, there are times when we aren’t overly flash at the whole love for and unity with one another thing, in fact we tend to do well at in to a point, what do you think that point would be.
3) This is it, when we get selfish. When the focus changes from bringing glory to God, to what I want, allow me to be blunt it’s when we put ourselves ahead of God and ahead of our neighbors. This does not mean that we need to put others ahead of ourselves and I don’t believe there is scriptural direction to do so; we are called to love others as ourselves, to put them on an even footing with us, forgiving their sins, doing for them as we would have them do for us. This brings unity and Jesus prayer is that we are united; Jesus wants us to be united.
Here’s an example using simple physics and mathematics could I lift a ton? No way could ten of us lift a ton, no, what about a hundred? Of course because we would only be lifting 10kg each. Unity and oneness working together has huge advantages physically and spiritually.
4) Relationally this might be a bit difficult, do you think? We might not see eye to eye on things, I might vote blue while you vote red or even green, I might be a member of Green Peace while you have shares on British Petroleum, this is hardly the stuff that brings about oneness, or is it?
Just imagine if John Key (Prime minister of New Zealand) and Phil Goff (Leader of the opposition) stood up after a political debate, and you may have to use a fair bit of imagination; and said to one another “well mate your politics stinks but I’ll see you at church Sunday, until then God bless you!” What kind of witness would that be, that while politically polls apart they could be united in their worship and service of God. Unity in Christ breaks down barriers because we are united in a common body of belief; we are many parts of the same. Individuals but united!
5) As long as we are focused on bringing glory to God, serving the whole body of believers our witness is powerful. This as I have said is what Jesus wants for us it was his prayer for us that we would be one. All with the Spirit of Christ in us making him known to the world, in our lives it can look like this, that we ensure that we have Godly relationships, I’m not talking in this instance about purity of the body though that is important, I’m talking about us having great relationships with one another sorting out disputes, the sort of lingering stuff that goes on and on.
To be blunt if we can’t forgive one another we are opposing the unity of the church and neglecting Jesus prayer for us.
I’ve heard some who I would say are solid Christians say I can’t forgive them they did this or that. In these sort of instances, they’re not talking about the person who killed their brother, they are talking about the solid Christian person in the pew three over who didn’t talk to them a couple of years ago on their birthday, or because they have a friendship with so and so that I don’t approve of, or their friend did this or that. Jesus wants us to be united. If you find yourself in this category get on and forgive, or your witness is no witness at all.
Then there are those who allow others to do it all for them, those who believe but leave the kingdom building up to others to do, if we are not working as a body we are not working, the foot can’t say to the hand you get on with it I’m having a break away from Christianity, to go fishing, go to the movies, to find myself, to go to Great Aunt Flora’s for Scones you get on with the job I’ll see you later (my apologies to anyone who has a Great Aunt Flora). The Kingdom isn’t built by servants who head off in different directions, our witness needs to be consistent and our behaviors settled we can’t be something here and another thing there.
Unity and Kingdom growth is hard to come by also while some are allowed to carry the largest percentage of the load financially, physically and spiritually. Imagine what our country would look like if only people, who wanted to, paid tax.
Some don’t even wish to join in worship with other Christians, is it possible to be a Christian and not even go to church, or to play an active part in your faith journey. This from the Wesleyan Christian Advocate.
Question: Can I be a Christian without joining the church?
Answer: Yes, it is possible. It is something like being:
A student who will not go to school.
A soldier who will not join an army.
A citizen who does not pay taxes or vote.
A salesman with no customers.
An explorer with no base camp.
A seaman on a ship without a crew.
A businessman on a deserted island.
An author without readers.
A tuba player without an orchestra.
A parent without a family.
A football player without a team.
A politician who is a hermit.
A scientist who does not share his findings.
A bee without a hive.
6) It is Jesus prayer request that we are united, he mentions in this prayer about being in us, this is not some physical embodiment, though we need to be one as we work for the Kingdom of God, but a spiritual relationship because when we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, when we are actively engaged by the Spirit of Christ we become more like him, we are able to accept his will, follow his leading, surrender ourselves to his will.
Jesus prayed that we would be one, that while we may have different views or disagree on some small things, we agree on the big things of faith. That while we are individuals we work together bringing glory to him, that we are led by His Spirit, and as we work together our unity is a witness to all people, that the whole world might know the love of God for us as we show our love for one another.
Jesus desire was that we would be one, Jesus desire is still that we would be one, one with one another, one with him so that we might share in his glory, are you up for a share? Are you willing to be one?
