John 17:20-26
October Memory Verse: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (NIV)
John 17:20-26
What does it mean that Jesus and the Father are one? What does it mean that believers are one with them?
These are really hard questions to answer or understand, but Jesus’ words in John 17 shed light on the subject. I think Christians can struggle with picturing God as a far-off being. Waiting to judge us. Distant and disconnected from us. But that is not what Jesus’ prayer reveals.
“I pray that they will all be one, just as you [the Father] and I are one.”
John 17:21
There are clear implications of Jesus’ divinity in this text, but he includes believers in this “oneness.” When Jesus is talking about his oneness with the Father, he is talking about true unity and fellowship. Just as a husband and wife become one flesh with one another when they are married, so the Father and the Son are one. And what’s more amazing is that we are brought into that divine fellowship through the Holy Spirit. We are able to draw near to God and he draw near to us. We talk to him, commune with him, reflect him, think like him, act like him, love others like him. We have real and genuine fellowship with God. “All being perfected into one” (V23).
It’s important to note that this does not mean that we are God or equal to the Father. That would be heresy! Jesus is God and shares equality with the Father, but clearly we are not. Our fellowship with God was severed at the fall when we sinned in Adam. Now, we are recipients of God’s grace - brought into union with God through the work of Christ.
Why is this so important? “Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me” (v23). When we have real fellowship and unity with God the world takes notice. If we are walking with Christ, modeling a life of repentance and faith, then we are testifying the truth of God to the world. Verse 25 reminds us that the world doesn’t know God, but we do. We truly know him and fellowship with him, so let your life be a testimony to Christ.
By: Joe Weaver
John 17:20-26
What does it mean that Jesus and the Father are one? What does it mean that believers are one with them?
These are really hard questions to answer or understand, but Jesus’ words in John 17 shed light on the subject. I think Christians can struggle with picturing God as a far-off being. Waiting to judge us. Distant and disconnected from us. But that is not what Jesus’ prayer reveals.
“I pray that they will all be one, just as you [the Father] and I are one.”
John 17:21
There are clear implications of Jesus’ divinity in this text, but he includes believers in this “oneness.” When Jesus is talking about his oneness with the Father, he is talking about true unity and fellowship. Just as a husband and wife become one flesh with one another when they are married, so the Father and the Son are one. And what’s more amazing is that we are brought into that divine fellowship through the Holy Spirit. We are able to draw near to God and he draw near to us. We talk to him, commune with him, reflect him, think like him, act like him, love others like him. We have real and genuine fellowship with God. “All being perfected into one” (V23).
It’s important to note that this does not mean that we are God or equal to the Father. That would be heresy! Jesus is God and shares equality with the Father, but clearly we are not. Our fellowship with God was severed at the fall when we sinned in Adam. Now, we are recipients of God’s grace - brought into union with God through the work of Christ.
Why is this so important? “Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me” (v23). When we have real fellowship and unity with God the world takes notice. If we are walking with Christ, modeling a life of repentance and faith, then we are testifying the truth of God to the world. Verse 25 reminds us that the world doesn’t know God, but we do. We truly know him and fellowship with him, so let your life be a testimony to Christ.
By: Joe Weaver
1 Comment
Thank you for the good word today Joe!
Vs 23b ..."You loved them (meaning us), even as you have loved Me (meaning Christ)" It hit me in a new and sweet way this morning to think that God loves me like He loves His precious Son, Jesus- and that He wants the world to know it. Forgive me Father for the times I don't acknowledge your love for me.