Jesus is emphatic and clear in his prayer with the Father. He longs for us to experience the same perfect unity and love which he shares with the Father. This text is one of the profoundly deep mysteries of God. Yet we can be confident of this – Jesus is praying for us and actively working to bring about this oneness in our lives.
John 17:20-26 (NLT)
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”
For Reflection and Prayer:
If something captured your attention – a word, a phrase, an image – let this simmer in you and allow the Spirit to expand its meaning for you. Journal what you hear and your response.
Where have you experienced this oneness with God and also with others? What has that been like for you? Where do you long to experience oneness? Write about these experiences and longings and talk it over in prayer with God.
Quietly rest with God and any consoling words or images given to you in this time of prayer.
print pdf
