Rev. J. Loren Russell
John 17:20-26 (NKJV)
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
More so than Matthew 6:9-13, John 17 might more properly be called “The Lord’s Prayer.” In this prayer, Jesus prays for Himself, His Disciples, and all of those who come to believe in Him through them. When Jesus prayed this high priestly prayer, He had a threefold purpose in mind; that He would be glorified, His Disciples sanctified (set apart), and all who believe in Him through His Disciples be unified. He prayed for His glory, His disciples, and you!
Jesus’ prayer to be glorified is not for selfish reasons, but that God the Father would be glorified which was His explicit mission. When He prays for His Disciples, He seeks their sanctification that they may glorify Christ to those of us who believe through their testimony. When He prays for unity among those who would come to believe in Christ because of the testimony of His Disciples, the plan and the purpose of this prayer is evidenced; Jesus glorifies the Father, His Disciples edify those who believe their testimony, and believers are sent to reach those who do not know Him with the Gospel of salvation. That brings unity to the church, not organizationally, but spiritually. The unity He prays for makes us one; “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph. 4:5-6) KJV.
Once we are unified with Christ, we are edified and equipped to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:21-22) NKJV. When He concludes His commission, He reassures them and says, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” As the all-wise God and architect of the universe, He knew that we would have trials and tribulations, but he encouraged us to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).
Jesus prayed for us to bring us through our mess so that we could be in unity with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the precious Holy Spirit. Marvin Sapp recorded a song entitled “Never Would Have Made It.” In one verse, he says, “I made it through my storm and my test because You were there to carry me through my mess.” Unity gives us the power to witness, to make disciples, and even pull some out of the fires of Hell (Jude v. 23)
For those who believe, we have been chosen for a mission and given a purpose. Paul says in Galatians 6:9, “Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up” (CEV). Christ has been glorified, the disciples sanctified, and we have been unified, edified, and given the power and authority to be successful in our mission. We have been unified and equipped to fulfill that mission until we hear Him say “Well done!” My uncle, James Russell, whom I, in large part get my name, shared words with me upon my father and his brother’s death that reminds me of my responsibility:
“If a task has once begun
Never leave it until its done.
Be it big or be it small,
Do it well or not at all!”
Let us not neglect or fail in our responsibility.
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church and is the spiritual leader of the Evangelical Church of God, both in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company/J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096) and is the producer and host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on our Matters of Faith YouTube Channel. Be sure to ‘Like’ the Matters of Faith Facebook group and page. Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.
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