Day 1178: One in Christ Jesus - John 17 vs 18 - 23

17-18 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20-23 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 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 17:18-23 English Standard Version

We see that Jesus made four specific requests in this majestic prayer. He asked, firstly, that they would be kept by God from the evil one. We saw that in the last post. Secondly, He asked that God would 'sanctify' them. The word can mean to be set apart for God, but it can also apply to the process of growing in holiness. How important that is. The Bible says that 'without holiness no one will see the Lord.' (Hebrews 12:14) Yet it's also true that those who would see God have the deepest longing for that holiness which God alone can produce in their lives! We've already seen that it is through the truth of God's word that this takes place. But what is the major ground for holiness? (vs 19)

We see that Jesus 'consecrated' himself. The same Greek word is used for 'sanctify' in vs 17. Christ was about to go to the cross to pay the price of His people's sins. And in doing so He consecrated (committed) His life fully to God. It's on that basis that the disciples would also be sanctified. Hebrews 10:9-10 says that Christ came to do the Father's will: “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” So sanctification for the believer is to grow more and more into what Jesus has already made them to be. And it's by the truth of the gospel that this happens. Like Peter,“The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.” John 13:10

The third thing Jesus requested of the Father is in vs 20-23. He extends His prayer for everyone who who will believe in Him through the message His disciples would take into the world! What was at the heart of this request? (vs 20-23)

He asks that Christians would enjoy and express the same unity among themselves, as Jesus had with the Father. This unity would flow from the truth of the gospel which brings even gentile believers into God's family. The apostle Paul spoke of this when he wrote that: “God's purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace. And in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2: 15-16) The oneness that Christians have in Christ by His gospel of truth should be a testimony to the world of God's love for all of mankind.

J.C. Ryle comments that “in every age, divisions have been the scandal of religion, and the weakness of the church of Christ! “ It has given the world opportunity to say: “When you've settled your own internal differences, we will believe.” And then he adds: “With prophetic foresight, the Lord saw all our divisions, and earnestly prayed that Christians would be one.”

There is a oneness in Christ that cuts across denominational barriers! “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:27-28. True believers in India rejoice in the same Lord as true believers in the UK. And this unity has lasted despite the many false teachers there have been. Christ said He would build His Church, and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Should we not often be praying to the same end that Jesus prayed for? Should we not also be seeking to live daily in the wonderful oneness for which He prayed?

God willing, we will look at the fourth request the Saviour made in the next post from John.