Being One – John 17: 20 - 26
Intro: The Matterhorn is one of the highest peaks in the Alps rising 14,692 feet. Four men attempted to climb the northern face of the Matterhorn, all roped together. As they crossed a particularly treacherous place, one man lost his footing and slid over the side. The sudden pull on the rope cause another to lose his grip and he fell away also. The same happened with the third man. But, the guide in the lead felt the first pull on the rope and drove his ax into the ice, braced his feel, and help fast. Three men dangled on the cliff face held back by one. The other three eventually regained their footing climbing back to safety to successfully complete their assent. So it should be with the church: when one member slips, others hold them up until they can regain their footing.
I The passage for today is a prayer offered to God my Jesus. In it there are three words I want to being to your attention. The first word is found in VS. 20 – “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.”
A The “them” Jesus speaks about refers to those who believe in Him as the Son of God. He is present with the disciples, his followers. They have seen his miracles, witnessed his teaching and decided to follow Him because they had come to believe He was truly the Son of God.
B Jesus prays for those who have believed in him and also for those who will be lead to accept and believe in Him because of the witness, testimony, and teaching of His followers.
C The important word here is “believe.” The word in GK is p?st?? / pistos meaning those who hear the testimony of the believers in Christ Jesus are “sure the witnesses are telling the truth which is faithful and trustworthy.” Jesus is praying that we may also be lead to believe because of those who testify to their belief in Jesus.
II VSS. 20 and 21 are one sentence in the Greek. “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.”
A Jesus prays for nothing less than oneness for believers. The Greek word for “one” is ?? / hen which means ONE in ESSENCE. Unity of oneness is not sameness.
B Jesus explains what he means in what follows the word ONE. Jesus says that we are to be one in essence although 2 different personalities. Our oneness is found in our ability to find common purpose and vision.
C Oneness is respecting diversity with each person feeling they have a place that is not simply tolerated; but essential to the whole. Perfect oneness is coming together, overcoming our differences, finding common ground and common goals in the name of Christ Jesus and working together to achieve those goals.
III VS. 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.” VSS. 23, 24 and 26 the word LOVE appears 5 times.
A The importance of the word LOVE here can be understood more deeply as we look at the Greek word used. The Greek word is ??ap?? / agapao which is fully translated as finding one’s joy in something.
B It is because God loves us that Jesus was sent. It is because Jesus loves his followers that the spirit is sent. It is because of love for humanity the Spirit remains with us.
C Love is the ingredient that holds us all together. We must see that God’s love is big enough to encompass everyone and our love should be the same. We MUST love each one another even though we may not agree or like everyone.
Concl: Many times in the church, we fight to prove we are right because we believe those who don’t agree with us are wrong. Unity is a relationship of mutual dependence and trust, such that our primary access to God is by way of one another. Being one is experiencing the love of God in our relationship to each other. I may not like what you like, or even like you; but, I love you with the same love that God loves me. --- For the church to live into its full potential, we must not only believe in Christ Jesus; but also, live in the oneness and unity of the love of God for each other.
