One with Jesus!
I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one. John 17:22
Today’s verse is part of a prayer that Jesus prayed on the night he was betrayed. Before Jesus and the disciples went out to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was preparing his disciples for the immediate and distant future. Jesus concluded his teaching was this prayer. The prayer has three parts: vv. 1-5 for himself; vv. 6-19 for his apostles; vv. 20-26 for his Church of all time.
We look at the church on earth and we come up with a legitimate question: Where is there unity? The earthly church appears to be divided. Because the church on earth is made up of sinful humans, this is always going to be the case. God has given us free will, that free will includes the ability to make dangerous and wrong choices.
Notice what Jesus is praying for. He wants his church to be one as he is one with the Father. The unity that Jesus is referencing is difficult, and actually, impossible for humans to understand. Jesus is one with the Father. But the Father did not become human. The Trinity is three distinct Persons, yet One.
Jesus indicates the source of the unity. He said, “I have given them the glory you gave me.” Jesus is referring to the complete sacrifice that Jesus was about to make by his suffering and death. The end result was Jesus paid the price for sin. He took away the devil’s hold on us and conquered death. That is his glory that he has given us. The victory that he secured makes us one.
Lord Jesus, thank you for this priceless gift of being one with you and the Father. Amen.