John 17:20-23 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

 

In the 17th Chapter of John, we read what Jesus prayed just before he was arrested. It is the longest prayer recorded by Jesus in the Bible, and it is the only prayer recorded with the Disciples. 

 

After praying for the Disciples, Jesus prays for all believers in Verses 20-26. This prayer is for believers at that time and all those to come in the future. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, He prayed this prayer for you.

 

The first part of this prayer is for unity in the Body. Without unity, the Church portrays a divisive message that hinders the understanding of unbelievers. Jesus prayed, I do not pray for these alone, (His Disciples) but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; (the words of the Disciples)  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."

 

As we take a hard look at the last phrase of His opening sentence, we gain a greater understanding of what He was actually praying for. Jesus prayed for the world to believe that He was sent by God. that the world may believe that You sent Me." All the words of His prayer prior to this are asking God to make them a unified voice. He prayed, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us,

 

The Plan of God is for the Church to be the Bride of Christ; the Body of Christ. The Church is always referred to as a single Body or one Bride. The intent was not for multiple bodies or many brides. Unfortunately, this is the case.

 

Every denomination sees itself as the Body of Christ or the select Bride when in fact, EVERY born-again believer in Christ is a part of the ONE Body of Christ, and we are all supposed to be in this together. We are all the Bride of Christ, and when Jesus comes to gather us up with Him, that will become apparent. Nowhere in the Bible does it call for the Body to fight against itself and destroy each other, and yet, that is exactly what has happened and continues to happen today.

 

The Church needs to seek unity within itself. We all believe in the same Jesus; the Son of God. We all believe that He was Crucified on the Cross at Calvary for the sins of the world. We all believe He rose on the third day and sits at the Right Hand Throne of the Father in Heaven. We all believe He is coming back for His Bride.

 

As Christians, we are to pattern our lives after the life of Jesus. Let us pattern our prayers after His as well and pray that we may be one as Jesus and the Father are one, so that……...the world may believe that You sent Me. That, my friends, is the goal!

 

Only Jesus Christ can……..turn the tide

 

Praying for unity in the Body,      Doreen

 

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