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Showing posts with label John 17:21-23. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John 17:21-23. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2015

A Lenten Meditation Inspired by Jesus' Prayer for Unity


"THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE"


Reflection

Jesus walked the Earth in perfect unity with the Father's will.  He carried out what the Father wanted Him to do wherever his ministry led him to.  He was God made flesh, and yet, Jesus offered a prayer at the end of His earthly life that has yet to be answered.  At the last supper with His disciples, He asked "That they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me." (John 17:21) 

But how many ways have Christians subdivided themselves centuries later?  How many denominations have assembled their own distinct followings?  It doesn't stop within the Christian church, we are witnessing the killing of many innocents merely because of different religious beliefs, all in the name of the same God, albeit addressed according to their own understanding.  Did Jesus miss this somehow in his prayer? No, for Jesus' prayer for unity is for everyone as one of the greatest prayers in the Bible.  It holds a particularly honored spot because it was Himself as the great "I AM" who spoke it.  At least twice in his prayer Jesus repeated himself by emphasizing why unity is important.  In verse 23 He pressed again what he said only a few sentences before: "that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love Them, even as Thou didst love Me."   This prayer shall eventually be answered.


True disciples of Jesus Christ reside within all the different denominations and traditions and cultural distinction. There are visible and invisible church.  The visible church is structured upon denominations, sects - Catholic, Baptist, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and others.  The invisible church is the practice of true spirituality regardless of denomination or sect.  Beyond doctrinal distinctions and forms of worship there is a deeper conviction which resounds in believers everywhere. 

The visible and invisible church unite if there is one or more practitioners sincerely practicing the teachings of Christ.  "This I command you, that you love one another." (John 15:17)