Scripture to Read: John 17:20–22
As Jesus prayed for His eleven disciples, He also included everyone through the ages who would surrender to Him as Lord. Jesus prayed in John 17:20–21, “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me.” As Jesus petitioned God the Father, He made sure to include everyone who will ever believe in Him through the message of the apostles and others who have gone before us. Jesus desires that all of us be one just as God the Father and Christ are One. The Father is in Christ and Christ is in the Father. Jesus asks the Father that we all may be in them, for when we are united with Christ the Father through the Spirit that is when the world will take notice and many more will believe that Jesus is God the Son sent by God the Father. Then, Jesus prayed in John 17:22, “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one.” Jesus gave the disciples the glory the Father had given to Jesus so they could be one with them and each other. The Holy Spirit would come to dwell in the disciples, uniting them with Christ and the Father and uniting them as followers of Christ as He continues to do today.
Challenge & Application
• What is the most encouraging thing in Christ’s prayer in John 17:20–22 and why?
• Knowing we are one with God the Father and God the Son through God the Spirit, how are you representing your King daily?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!