Speaker 1: 0:01

Welcome to the Daily Blade. The Word of God is described as the sword of the Spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

Speaker 2: 0:20

Alright, guys, glad to have you back. I hope you've been reading John 17 every day this week, because that's where we're parked. This week we're digging deep into the high priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17. Yesterday we looked at verses 13 through 19, where Jesus prayed for the mission of the disciples. Today we're in verses 20 through 23, where Jesus is praying for all believers. I'll read those verses here.

Speaker 2: 0:42

I do not ask for those only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 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 the glory that you have given me I have given to them. That they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me. That they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me. That they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved me. All right, let's dig in Verse 20. I do not ask for these only, so this intercession is not just for the disciples, right? It's not just for the apostles, of which there are essentially only 11 of them right now. So who is Jesus asking on behalf of, but also for those who will believe in me? So this is presumptive by Jesus, right? It's a presumptive success, and many of you are in sales, so I'm sure you're aware of something called the presumptive close. It's where you talk about a deal as if it's done before it is actually done. Done, and that's what Jesus is doing here Through their word. So Jesus believes, knows that the disciples will be successful in their mission of spreading the good news of his own resurrection from the dead and that the people will put their belief in that, they will put their faith in that. They will do so because they will hear the gospel preached from the mouths of those disciples Verse 21, that they may all be one. So unity, unity, unity. Jesus is praying for comprehensive unity here amongst the believers. So I certainly don't think we've done the best job of that, you know, as we've carried on into the future. But let's get back to it here. Just as you, father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so the unity of believers here actually reflects the oneness of God the Father, and also God the Son, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. So it's not unity for unity's sake. This is missional in nature. So the prayer is for unity's sake. This is missional in nature. So the prayer is for unity of believers, so that non-believers are attracted to belief right. So when there is legitimate unity, it's a message to the world that makes evangelism more effective.

Speaker 2: 2:55

Now verse 22,. The glory that you have given me, I have given to them. So here's the sovereignty of God all over again. So God gave glory to Jesus, and now Jesus gives it to the believers. And why is that glory given to them? That they may be one, even as we are one and the we. Here is another description of the Trinity, and there is unity in the Trinity, and Jesus is praying for a similar unity amongst believers. The gift of glory is actually reflected in that unity.

Speaker 2: 3:25

Now verse 23,. I in them and you in me. So we see from other parts of the New Testament that Christ actually dwells within believers. So Paul says this in Galatians 2.20,. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh. I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Speaker 2: 3:48

And then he also says this in Colossians 1.27,.

Speaker 2: 3:50

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory, of this mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory that they may become perfectly one, so that they may become perfectly one, so perfectly one, guys, the goal is perfect and complete unity here, so that the world may know that you sent me Again.

Speaker 2: 4:12

There is a reiteration here that the purpose of the unity is for the work of evangelism and love them even as you loved me, as you loved me. I mean, guys, this is actually stunning. It's very, very humbling. It's just amazing overall. Essentially, jesus is stating that believers are loved by God, the Father, in the same way that he loves his own son. So in many ways, this is the climax of the climax of the high priestly prayer of Jesus. And here are a couple of questions for you to reckon with today. How can you pursue unity with believers in your life, and what does it mean if you can help facilitate? What would it mean, rather, if you could help facilitate love and oneness amongst the body of Christ. All right, give John 17 another read as we march towards tomorrow, where we will wrap up our discussion of Jesus and his prayer while he is praying for eternal fellowship.

Speaker 1: 5:13

Thank you for listening to today's episode Before you go. If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review. Stay sharp. Share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review. Stay sharp.