What Did Jesus Mean When He Prayed for Unity? (John 17:26)

What do you expect to speak about when you come near the end of your life? Some people pay a lot of attention to last words. The Bible contains several examples of people who had important things to say as they drew near the end of their lives. For example, Jacob said particular things about his children and Moses delivered appropriate messages to his nation. The most important example recorded for us in the Bible is that of Jesus.

So what was he speaking about as he drew near the end of his life on earth? We might be surprised to discover that the Bible records a great deal of what he said during the twenty-four hours before his death. Perhaps the best-known words are the seven statements he made when on the cross. The longest description of his words is given by the apostle John in the section of his gospel running from chapter 13 to chapter 16, and you may want to read that passage this afternoon and note down the issues that Jesus spoke about.

After Jesus had completed his teaching at that period of time, John records a prayer by the Saviour, and in it Jesus revealed several other desires that were uppermost in his mind. One of them was that his people would be united in order that the world would believe that he had been sent on a divine mission by his Father, which means that he was also praying for public vindication of his mission.

This statement is one of the most commonly quoted sayings of Jesus and has been repeated in all kinds of situations, and no doubt we are familiar with many of them. With regard to some of those locations there does not seem to be a real connection to what he had in mind, including the coming together of people whom he would not recognise as his followers. So how can we understand it, and are there any implications it should have for us?

Three features of this divine request

The first thing we can say is this. In order to understand it, we cannot introduce into its meaning or implementation anything that would suggest that this prayer of Jesus has not been answered by his Father, because such a consequence is impossible. Here is an example to think about. Imagine a church that has an acrimonious division. It divides into two or more groups and those involved stop speaking to one another. Observers are likely to say that the division is contrary to what Jesus prayed for in John 17. But when they say that, they are actually saying that the prayer of Jesus has not been answered in the cases of those who belonged to that church. So their deduction must be a wrong one. Here is another example. Two evangelical, identical denominations decide to unite, and no doubt that is a good thing. Can we think of such a union that caused the world to believe that Jesus had been sent on a divine mission? So while that union is a good thing, it cannot be what Jesus had in mind by this prayer.

The second thing to say is this, and it is a fairly obvious question: ‘Who is Jesus speaking about in this petition?’ He refers to two different groups. The first is made up of those who will believe on him through the message of the apostles and the second he describes as the world.

Let’s think about those who will believe on him through the word of the apostles. Jesus is not limiting the number to those who actually heard the apostles in the first century. In addition he has in mind all those who read or heard their words and accepted them. Who are these people? They are every person from every period of time and from every geographical location who have believed in him. This means that the earliest this union can take place will be when the last person who will believe in Jesus believes in him. In other words, this union is not going to be seen until the second coming of Jesus, when the great number that no one can count will be gathered together in the presence of God. We have a description of this great number in seventh chapter of the Book of Revelation. When that occasion arrives, it will be a great occasion of unity.

Let’s think about those who are classified as the world. Who are they? They are the group composed of those from every period of history and from every place who did not believe in Jesus. Some refused to listen to the gospel once, others refused to listen to it many times, and some never had the opportunity. But here they are together, and together they recognize that Jesus had been sent on a mission to save those who believed in him. The world, although they will not love Jesus, will be compelled to acknowledge after seeing the innumerable number of saved sinners that Jesus had been sent on a mission to save them. As Paul says in Philippians 2:11, every person will confess that Jesus is Lord and bow to him when the end comes.

There is a solemn aspect to this acknowledgement, which is that those who are classified here as among the world will see people they knew personally standing among the united and completed group of believers. They will see that those who believed in Jesus were the ones who were right, but their recognition will come too late to get any benefit from it. This will not prevent such from recognizing that Jesus is Lord, from seeing that he has accomplished the full salvation entrusted to him, but they will not participate in it.

So Jesus prayed for the final union of all his blood-bought people, and that prayer will be answered on that great future day. Jesus also prayed for his personal vindication, and that prayer will also be answered on that great future day. The union and the vindication will happen at the same time.

Responding to this future unity

Jesus gives us a clue about how this union will come to pass when he says earlier that he is praying for those who will believe the words of the apostles. So we can deduce that it is possible to anticipate this future unity if we take seriously the words of the apostles. Responding to the words of the apostles must involve two things. First, there will be evangelism of those who have not heard the words, or not responded to them positively yet, in order that they can participate in this great future occasion of unity. Second, there will be instruction or edification of those who have responded in order for them to prepare for this great future unity. A genuine desire for this marvellous future Christian unity will have both these activities in order to be authentic.

Evangelism

Evangelism is an aspect of Christian witness, and if it is not there it is not Christian witness. It is a proclamation of the good news in which the saving acts of God are communicated in a verbal manner to those who don't as yet accept it. In order for this to happen, there must be a personal experience of it in the witness’ heart – each witness will have tasted that God pardons sinners. Moreover, with regard to some with whom they contact, there has to be persistent perseverance. And this personal, persistent proclamation must be conveyed with passion. Such evangelism is part of what Jesus considered an essential response to bring about this great future Christian unity. We all pass on the same message from our hearts, because it came to us from his heart.

Edification

Edification is an aspect of Christian unity and another word for it is discipleship. When does discipleship begin? We cannot answer this question by speaking about a change of heart because we cannot tell when such an experience begins. It is possible for someone to be a secret disciple, as Joseph of Arimathea was before he became a public one by arranging for the dead body of Jesus to be buried. The Bible, however, gives some features of true discipleship that involve disciples of Jesus.

The first sign is baptism, and we are aware that this is a common requirement in every branch of the Christian church. It is impossible for an unbaptised person to illustrate Christian unity because baptism is the public initiation rite that brings a person into Christ's visible church. Baptism is a statement that we want to be identified with the triune God and with his people. The fact that baptism as a ritual is abused by liberals gives us no authority for diminishing its importance as an expression of Christian unity and an anticipation of the marvellous experience of unity that will be enjoyed when Jesus returns.

A second sign that we have grasped the significance of this future experience of Christian unity is attendance at church services for edification and participation in church activities in order to mature as believers. We always have to ask ourselves if our absence from an activity is illustrating in the present the unity that Jesus’ people will have on that great future day. Perhaps a simple question will illustrate the point. We have a midweek prayer meeting. Jesus promised to be where two or three are met in his name, that is with his authority. If we chose not to be there and do something else instead, are we expressing a desire for perfect Christian unity? We realise that sometimes absence cannot be avoided because of legitimate requirements. But if they are not legitimate, are we anticipating Christian unity?

A third sign of looking ahead to this time of Christian unity is a shared hope. Jesus refers to this hope in verse 26, when he prays that all of his disciples would be together and behold his glory. This will not happen until all of them are together in the eternal state. That will be the location when this prayer will be answered fully, when believers from different centuries, different countries, different cultures and different churches will be together forever. When the world sees then what Jesus has done by bringing those billions to glory, they will recognise that he had been sent on a divine mission, one which he accomplished fully and successfully.

Why does Jesus want his people to be together forever?

The answer is so that they will see his capabilities and enjoy his provisions forever. He states this in this prayer when asking that they would be with him forever, and that during that forever they would behold his glory. Of course, since that is the reason why Jesus wants his people together forever, it is a reasonable deduction to say that is what he wants them to do when they meet together now.

Think of the items we mentioned earlier as connected to Christian unity. What role does Jesus play in each of them? Evangelism is telling people about Jesus and how they can be forgiven through what he did on the cross. That is an important way of seeing his glory. Baptism is about discipleship and teaching everything that Jesus taught his original disciples. Through learning about him we will see his glory. Prayer is offered to the Father in the name of Jesus, on his authority, and when our prayers are answered we will see aspects of his glory. Hope is connected to what Jesus will do in the future, and whatever he will do we will see aspects of his glory.

Are we preparing now for that great occasion when the unity of Jesus’ church will come to pass and when he will be vindicated before those who are against him?