By Chalcedony Williams
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
John 17:13-19 NLT
A recent UK survey found that only 33% of people are comfortable with talking to loved ones about their death and 72% of people have not made a will. It seems that, for most people, thinking about death is a very uncomfortable experience. Yet, throughout scripture, and in church history, we encounter the words and deeds of those who seemed to be prepared to die. In many ways, Jesus’ epic prayer, recorded in John 17, is like His last will and testament. He is about to accomplish everything by giving up His life to death on the cross. So, Jesus takes a moment to earnestly set out before His Father, in the hearing of His disciples, what He wants to happen next: glory and unity.
First, Jesus talks about His own glory. He had come in the appearance of a man, humbled to the status of a lowly servant, bowing to the Father’s will, taking on Himself weakness, the curse of sin and death. But He did this so that it would bring glory to the Father. Glory means praise, honour, wonder, delight. Jesus’ purpose on earth was to reclaim for His Father the glory and honour He deserved from mankind by making Him known to us. Jesus shows us the Father and speaks the Father’s Word.
In His prayer, Jesus attaches His own glory to the Father’s glory. He prays that, as the Father is glorified, so He will be glorified, and as He is glorified, so is the Father. The Father and the Son share in their glory and are praised and magnified together because they are one, equal in glory and worthiness of praise.
Jesus also prays about His followers who now belong to Him. Not in a creepy, objectifying kind of way, but relationally, the way a husband and wife belong to one another. Being a disciple is to have a union with Christ. Every blessing that comes from God the Father cannot come to us outside of Christ. But when we are united with Christ, we are positioned to receive wondrous gifts. We have eternal life (17:2-3) – Colossians 3:3 says ‘for you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.’ Jesus’ death becomes ours, freeing us from sin and death, giving us new life now and the hope of sharing in His resurrection. We also receive protection from destruction and the evil one (John 17:15) and joy to withstand persecution (v.13-14); we are being made perfect and holy (v.19); and, when Jesus returns, we will be with Him in His glory (v.24).
Life in the Son is not an individualistic life. The Son is united with the Father, we are united with the Son, and we are also united with each other. Jesus prayed that, as the disciples spread His word, all who believe in Him may be made one. Not only that, but that our oneness would bear witness to the perfect love of the Father. We are one with one another, united in brotherly-sisterly love. Our lives are inextricably linked forever, and our shared future is secured in our one, true Lord, Jesus Christ.
Together, we pray: may His will be done.
Ask: What does unity among believers tell others about Jesus?
Seek: How is Jesus being glorified in my life?
Knock: Read John 17, and join with Jesus in prayer for our protection, joy, sanctification, unity, and witness.
(Upper Photo by Brian Lundquist on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Alex Woods on Unsplash)