Jesus Prays for Unity
John 17:20-21
20 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 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.
ESV
Why Pray for Unity?
(John 17)
Intro:
A. When our nation was being formed it came at a great cost. We rebelled against Great Britain and longed to be independent. We formed a Continental Congress an in 1776 a Declaration of Independence drawn up. But not every member of the congress agreed that we should succeed from Britain. One the most outspoken opponents to independence was John Dickinson, a representative from Pennsylvania. It was not freedom he opposed, but the timing and the cost. It is said that on July 1, 1776 Dickenson began a statement with these words, “I value the love of my country as I ought; but I value my country more…” John Dickenson did not sign the declaration, but he fought with his regiment even though he did not believe it was the right time for that course of action. He was not alone, there were Christians who believed that war with England was sinful. Several churches divided.
B. Unity where there is a great divide is difficult. Our nation faced it in again in the in the 1860’s. It tore family and friends apart and some would even go to war with each other. In the 1770’s and the 1860’s unity was talked about with great passion. But many did not believe that the nation was united at either time. In the 1800’s churches held differing beliefs on issues of the day and God and the Bible was used to support both sides. The church in America was dividing and it seemed like we could not stop it.
C. 2020 was another year that brought divide within our country. Politics became the method of division, but it spilled over into other areas and again the church was feeling a division.
D. Then we read John 13:34-35. Sometimes we think that might have worked then, but how can it work now? There are so many different Christian denominations that understand scripture in opposing ways. Even within denominations and fellowship there is a different of what scripture means and how to apply it.
I. Unity In Dividing Times
A. Next week Bob Marlow is going to bring a lesson that centers on Faith, Hope and Love. Unity cannot be separated from love. We don’t unite around a building, but around the understanding and application of scripture. The beauty, and the difficulty, of the Churches of Christ is our independence. What we do here, the church in McKeesport may not do. They cannot tell us how to worship, teach or believe, and we have no authority over how they worship, teach or believe. Yet we call each other sister congregations and unite under a title called “Churches of Christ.” Each congregation digs into God’s word and comes to an understanding of what God expects from them at that time.
B. One of my heroes of the book of Acts is Barnabas. He got that nickname early on from the Apostles. Acts 4:36 says he called was Barnabas which means, “Son of encouragement.” What great nickname. He showed the power lifting up others and that was the basis for his name. Look at his first encounter with Saul of Tarsus who would become the Apostle Paul. READ Acts 9:27-28.
C. When news of the growth in Antioch was told to the Apostles in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas there to encourage them and see what was happening. There we read Acts 11:25-26. In Acts 13 we read how the leadership of Antioch was in worship the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
D. With that came the first missionary journey through Galatia and the surround areas. They came back to Antioch excited and ready to report all that God was doing. After a difficult time of talking to the church in Jerusalem and trying to have unity between Gentiles and Jew who all accepted Jesus, Paul and Barnabas were ready to take the news back to the Gentile churches.
E. The dynamic duo came to an end. How? Why? It seems like a trifle disagreement to me. Acts 15:36-41. Yes, John Mark failed under pressure the first time, but Barnabas was ready to give him a second chance, why was Paul so obstinate? He forced a division that must have been public.
II. Jesus Prays for Unity
A. Come with me to John 17. It is the night before Jesus would go to the cross. We read from chapter 13 that Jesus wanted these men to be seen as people who loved each other. Jesus knew that his kingdom, that we see as the church, could not grow if love did not unite the disciples.
B. In John 17 we read the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. In that prayer, Jesus prayed for oneness, unity. READ John 17:5. Jesus longed for the unity he had with the Father before the world began. Most of us have a difficult time trying to understand the trinity, the three-in-one, but we believe they are so much one that you can’t fully separate the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus seeks for that union again. It is a unity that created earth, the plan of salvation and the defeat of Satan.
C. READ John 17:11. Jesus prays for the 11 men that will remain, as Jesus knew what would soon happen to Judas. Jesus is looking forward to leaving this earth behind and being back with the Father, but consider the wording of this part of the prayer. Jesus asks the Father to “keep them,” “protect them” by the power of the Name. Keep or protect them from evil, sin, the very power that Satan still has over this world. Jesus prayed that these 11 would stay true because of the Name into which they were called.
D. Then, after asking for that protection, he prays that they may be one, even as he and the Father are one. How can eleven human beings even begin to have the same oneness that Jesus and the Father have? As this prayer continues we hear Jesus pray (vs 17). Truth, is something we can unite in. Those 11, and we today, can be in complete unity that there is One God and creator of heaven and earth; that there is one Savior and mediator between man and God, Jesus the Christ; and that the Holy Spirit has revealed God’s truth to mankind.
E. Jesus prayed to sanctify, set the apostles aside in a holy manner, by way of truth. That truth is found in the word of God. What Jesus prayed for was a unity based upon truth. There has to be absolute truth if that unity can be attained.
F. The prayer for unity didn’t end with the Apostles, listen to verses 20-23. Jesus prayed for those who would believe in him based upon what the words of the Apostles. For us, the NT was given in written form. For 2000 years its preservation can only be described as miraculous. The authenticity of the written word is so great that only God could have protected the truth revealed within it.
G. Jesus prays that we would unite in truth. That we would find oneness in God’s word. Christians talk about interpretation based upon translations and argue about meaning and context, but Jesus prayed that we would all understand truth, a truth that sets us free from the bondage of sin. He prayed about a truth that would bring us together in worship to God. He prayed that we would search scripture to know God’s will and do God’s desire. That is a unity that we can have, that we must have.
Conclusion:
A. I appreciate our differences. I know that I do not know everything. You hired me, in part, because you believe that I have a grasp of scripture that can then be used to teach both the saved and the lost. I seek to be honest when I tell you what is my understanding and I seek to be strong when I tell you what God states clearly and leaves no room for interpretation. We not agree on what is truth in each verse the Bible. We will have interpretation and opinion, but we can, in love, unite in the truth of God’s will and seek to show that to the world around us.
B. Pray with me.