The Gospel of John: John 17.1-26

Read and meditate on John 17.19-23.
Jesus’ purpose in sanctifying Himself for the great work of glory He would accomplish on the cross, was so that the world might believe the Father had sent Him. And the means to that end involves the people who believe in Him.

                                ¹⁹So that in the truth
they may be sanctified, I sanctify
Myself. ²⁰I pray not for them only; I
pray also for all those who will believe
in Me because of their word. May it please
You, Father, ²¹that they may be one; as You
are in Me, I in You, so let them, too,
be one in Us, so that the world may know
that You have sent Me. ²²Father, make it so,
that may be one just as We are. I
have given them Your glory. Glorify
Yourself, and make them one with Us: ²³I
in them, and You in Me, that they may by
their oneness perfect be, and that all men
may know You sent Me, and that You love them
as You have loved Me.”

- John 17.19-23

Reflect
1.  Briefly explain the connection between sanctification (cf. v. 17), Christian unity, and the Church’s witness in the world. Complete this prayer: Lord, help me always to remember that Your goal is for the world to know Jesus as Your Messiah, whether they believe in Him or not. Today, as I go out into the world, help me…

2.  The goal is that, as the glory of God becomes known through our sanctification and oneness, the world will be able to see that Jesus Christ has come from God (v. 23). Why should that be so? Does this mean that everyone in the world will become believers? Jesus used the verb believe here in the subjunctive sense, which is the verbal mood of possibility, not necessarily of fact. What is He saying about our witness to the world? What can I do today, Lord, to help Your people know more unity in Your Spirit (Eph. 4.3)? Show me one…

3.  Jesus sanctified – set Himself apart – for the work of the cross, which, by dealing with our sins, makes it possible for the work of sanctification in the truth to proceed in our lives. Why is personal sanctification essential to Christian unity? Can Christians know true unity where they are not being sanctified in God’s truth? Explain. Lord, let Your Spirit be powerfully at work in me today to…

4.  Jesus prayed that all His followers may be one, like the oneness He enjoys with the Father. What does that look like in a local church? In a community with many churches? Worldwide? How would you describe the state of Christian unity in our day? Lord, I pray for a growing vision of unity among the churches in our community, so that…

5. Sanctification and unity are preconditions for effective witness. What are the greatest obstacles to increased unity among the friends and followers of Christ in our day? What can you do to encourage more unity in the Spirit among the Christians in your community? Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“The Son dwells in us in a corporeal sense as man, commingled and united with us by the mystery of the Eucharist. And also [he dwells with us] in a spiritual sense as God, by the effectual working and grace of his own Spirit, building up our spirit into newness of life and making us partakers of his divine nature. Christ, then, is seen to be the bond of union between us and God the Father. He is seen as human, making us, as it were, his branches, and is seen as God because he is by nature inherent in his own Father. For in no other way could that nature which is subject to corruption be elevated to incorruption, except by the coming down to it of that nature that is high above all corruption and changeability.… We have, therefore, been made perfect in unity with God the Father, through the mediation of Christ. For by receiving in ourselves (both in a corporeal and spiritual sense, as I said just now) him who is the Son by nature and who has essential union with the Father, we have been glorified and become partakers in the nature of the Most High.” Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

Where believers are growing and being sanctified, unity of believers will be in evidence. Where such unity is in evidence, God is glorified, and the Church’s witness becomes more accessible and credible. What is your role in that process?

Closing Prayer
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.

Psalm 33.13-21

Psalm 33.18-22 (Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
God watches those who fear His Name, who hope upon His grace and love;
He keeps their souls from death and shame who trust in Him Who reigns above.

God is our Helper and our Shield; upon us let Your grace descend!
We hope in You; to You we yield; we trust in Jesus to the end.

T. M. Moore

What does it mean to know Jesus? Order a copy of our book, To Know Him, and share it with a friend who does not know the Lord (click here). Need help learning to pray the psalms? Order the book, God’s Prayer Program, and discover why and how to realize the power of the psalms to transform your prayer life (click here).

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.