Jesus Prayed That We Don’t Do It Alone
Scripture — John 17:20
“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Focus
Jesus’s prayer in John 17, with its striking request that all disciples of Jesus be unified, underscores the truth of the “can’t do it alone” principle. It also challenges us to examine our own lives. Are we experiencing in our relationships the unity for which Jesus prayed? Are we helping our church to be more united and less divided? Are we living each day in the reality of the oneness we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ?
Today’s devotion is part of the Life for Leaders series: Can’t Do It Alone.
Devotion
As we have seen in this week’s Life for Leaders devotions, the example of Jesus strongly reinforces the “can’t do it alone” principle. At the beginning of his messianic ministry, Jesus chose several people to follow him as his disciples. Not only were they to share in the work, but also they were to “be with” Jesus. Then, when Jesus sent out his disciples to spread the good news of the kingdom of God, he sent them, not alone, but in pairs. Jesus knew that his apprentices would be more effective and resilient if they served in partnerships.
Near the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus prayed what people today sometimes call his “High Priestly Prayer.” It has this name because in John 17 Jesus intercedes for his disciples, both present and future, in a priestly way. He shows his deep care for them and their well-being, as well as their mission in the world.
A key section of Jesus’s prayer says, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:20-23). This is quite a stunning prayer. First, Jesus prays that his disciples, both present and future, “may all be one” (17:21). Then he compares their oneness to that unique unity Jesus shares with his Heavenly Father (17:21-23). Finally, Jesus prays that his disciples “may become completely one” (17:23). Wow! We’re talking about serious oneness here!
The unity of Christians is essential to our mission, according to Jesus. We are to be unified in God, Jesus prays, “so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21). In other words, our unity testifies to the truth of the gospel. We see this same point being made in a slightly different way in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In chapter 2, we learn that the death of Christ not only reconciles us to God but also to each other (Ephesians 2:11-22). Then, in chapter 3 we discover that the through the church the wisdom of God will be made known to the whole universe (Ephesians 3:10). When we live as unified people, we bear witness to the unifying truth of the gospel.
The prayer of Jesus in John 17 makes one of the strongest biblical cases for the “can’t do it alone” principle. As Jesus envisions the church of the future, he sees unity among Christians as absolutely essential to our identity and our witness. Now, it would be tempting to start complaining about how poorly the church has lived out this vision, but I won’t do that now. In my experience, though the larger church of Christ is sadly disunified, the sort of unity Jesus envisions can happen in more intimate Christian fellowship, in healthy churches and committed small groups, in prayer partnerships and long-term friendships, in marriages and other family relationships. So, even if you don’t have much influence on the larger church, in the core relationships of your life you can seek to experience the unity for which Jesus once prayed. I think this sort of real-time, small-scale unity is necessary for all of us on the way to a more global oneness of the church.
Whenever I read Jesus’s “High Priestly Prayer,” I feel led to examine my attitude toward the church and its unity. Do I help my own church to be more united through my words and actions? Or am I someone who easily sows seeds of disunity? Am I willing to build relationships with Christians who are not quite like me theologically, sociologically, racial-ethnically, or geographically? Am I someone who cherishes the unity of the church or do I tend to focus on ways in which Christians differ and disagree?
Jesus’s prayer in John 17, with its striking request that all disciples of Jesus be unified, underscores the truth of the “can’t do it alone” principle. It also challenges us to examine our own lives. Are we experiencing in our relationships the unity for which Jesus prayed? Are we helping our church to be more united and less divided? Are we living each day in the reality of the oneness we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ?
Reflect
When have you experienced genuine unity among Christians? What contributed to that unity?
The two previous paragraphs included several questions. Reflect on one or two of these, whichever ones seem more applicable to you.
Act
Look for an opportunity to strengthen the unity of your church, either through words or deeds, or both.
Pray
Gracious God, today I pray for Christians in my neighborhood, in my church, and throughout the world. I pray in the way of Jesus in John 17.
I ask on behalf of all who believe in Jesus, that we may be one. Even as you, O God, are one God in three persons, so may we be one. May we be unified, not through our efforts, but through your power and grace as we abide in you.
Help us, O God, when we’re divided. Help us to seek unity rather than strife. May we look for opportunities to affirm and support believers who are just like us in matters of theology and practice.
Through our unity, a unity that stands out in a world full of divisions and divisiveness, may people see the reconciling truth of the gospel. May they be drawn to you, O God, because of our unity in you. Amen.
Banner image by Chichi Onyekanne on Unsplash.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project’s online commentary. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: The Importance of Workplace Relationships (John 14-17).
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Mark D. Roberts
Senior Strategist
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders,...