With Dale Ratzlaff
John 17:20-23
I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
In these verses, we become part of Christ’s prayer to the Father, for we have believed through their word. Not only this, but those who believe through our word as we repeat the glad tidings of the gospel as recorded by the first Apostles become objects of Jesus’ prayer for His men and women.
For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth (Jn. 17:19).
Jesus has prayed that we not be taken out of the world, but that we will be kept from the evil one. He has prayed for our sanctification, which is now an accomplished fact. As we mentioned in the last lesson, “may be sanctified” in the reference below is perfect passive, indicating an accomplished fact done by Christ.
Now He prays for our unity with God.
That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us.
This prayer, perhaps more than any other spoken by our Lord, expresses a depth of meaning that can only be understood by the work of the Spirit who is to guide us into all truth. Was this prayer answered? Is this prayer answered in respect to us who believe in the Apostle’s word? We can think of only one prayer that was not fully answered, which expressed the real humanity of Jesus.
And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Mt. 26:39).
We conclude that this prayer recorded in John 17 was answered. Therefore His believing people are one. However, there is to be an advancement of this unity. “That they may be perfected in unity.” The understanding of this unity is best understood in comparison to Sanctification. We have been sanctified, once and for all time, as pointed out above. At the same time, we are progressing in personal holiness. In the same way, we are one with Christ and the Father and other believers. We are counseled to develop this unity.
Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).
Important things need repeating. Note the repetition, plus some added information, with the corresponding four parts in verses 21 and 23.
(1)That they may all be one; (2) even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, (3) that they also may be in Us, (4) so that the world may believe that You sent Me (Jn. 17:21).
(1) I in them and You in Me, (2) that they may be perfected in unity, (3) so that the world may know that You sent Me, (4) and loved them, even as You have loved Me. (Jn. 17:23)
As we read these verses, our spirit cries out for understanding. How do we enter into the promised unity described as the mutual indwelling with Christ, which is similar to the indwelling Christ had with the Father? Throughout the Gospel of John, we get some idea of what these promises mean and how to inculcate them in our lives. We will look at more in the nest lesson.
• Jesus was given authority to execute judgment.
“And He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man (Jn. 5:27).
• Believers have been given authority for their mission and a sphere to execute judgment.
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you (Lk. 10:19).
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? (1 Cor. 6:2-3).
• Jesus was sent on His mission to the world and to do the works assigned to Him by the Father.
But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me (Jn. 5:36).
• Believers have been sent with a mission.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Mt. 28:19-20).
• Christ relied upon the Father for what to speak and what to do.
For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak (Jn. 12:49).
• Believers will be told what they are to say.
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say (Mt. 10:19).
• The Father was always with Christ.
Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me (Jn. 16:32).
Believers have the assurance that Christ, in the person of the Holy Spirit, will always be with them.
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever (Jn. 14:16).
Application
The unity described in John 17 has a depth of meaning beyond our comprehension. In this lesson, we see the similarities between the mission of Jesus and our mission.
- We see the resemblance between how Christ was equipped for His mission and how we have been equipped for our mission.
- There is a likeness between how Christ was treated as He carried out the will of the Father to how we will be treated as we carry out the mission assigned to us by Christ.
- There is a correspondence between the presence of the Father with Jesus in His mission as there is between Christ and His continual presence with us.
I was taking a walk the other day and meditating on this mutual indwelling described in John 17. At the same time, I was facing a number of difficulties. However, I realized they were small in comparison to what Christ faced on my behalf. I knew that I had been given authority to proclaim the gospel. I knew that the Holy Spirit was in me and would be with me forever. Contemplating who I was “in Christ,” I felt humbled that I had been called to work for Him. I could look forward to a successful conclusion of my work, not based upon my best ability but upon the promises of His word. - There is a unity between the Father and Christ that remains somewhat of a mystery. We cannot fully comprehend its depth. In the same way, I have come to believe that the mutual indwelling of Christ by the Holy Spirit in our lives is something that can only be experienced, but not easily described.
Prayer
Father, it is my prayer that I may understand and experience the mutual indwelling, and all that it entails. May I realize that you have equipped me for the mission to which you have called me. May I realize the presence of the Holy Spirit and listen to what He tells me as I study your Word.
In Jesus Name.
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