Perfectly One (John 17:23)

Lesson #290

Jesus continues to pray about this oneness becoming a perfect unity: “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:23 ESV). In the last lesson we spoke of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Jesus points this out by saying: “I in them.” Then to link us to the one who dwells in unapproachable light, Jesus says: “you in me” where “you” refers to his Father. Try to grasp the significance of this when we have our perfect resurrected bodies. We all need to spend more time considering this great mystery because we need to make the hope of glory part of our daily walk.

All that the Father is, is also in Jesus and with Jesus in us he brings the Father into us, establishing unity with each of us and thus we with each other. Jesus establishes and maintains this unity: “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17 ESV). Jesus is the glue, through the presence of the Spirit, that creates and maintains perfect unity. Think of all those you can’t stand, who you wish you would never see again; those who seem to make life so difficult. Now think about having perfect unity with them and think of what is going to have to change in you and them to make this possible. The “may” become perfectly one is reference to life of the body of believers here on earth. We need greater unity now because in that way the world will see us as different than they.

If we were to love one another as Jesus loves us we would be much more united that we are today. This oneness is important because it enforces the message that the Father sent Jesus into the world as a demonstration of the Father’s love for them: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16a). If the Father can love us retched sinners, then we should be able to love one another and establish this unity that Jesus is praying for.

Prayer

Father, I think of this oneness of love in the body and with you and Father and think of the great diversity that will be found in this family of God. I think of the many different cultures, language, foods, clothing, etc. and then I think that I will be able to know the name of each and be able to communicate with them as I do my own brothers and sisters. I am overwhelmed at all we will experience with one another, but then add to that all we will know and experience about God. Father have mercy on us because we are of the world, not living in the world as sales people creating interest in the great life we can begin to experience now.