I pray also for those who will believe in me . . . that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21)
Suppose that you had lived and worked in a foreign country. While you were there, you made some really good friends and spent considerable time investing in their lives. Now, suddenly, you had to leave. You had tried to tell your friends that your time with them was short, but they didn’t understand. Now, as you are about to leave, what departing instructions would you give them?
This was Jesus’ situation – he had just celebrated the Passover with his disciples, Judas had left, the eleven were there, and Jesus prayed for them. This prayer is known as the High Priestly Prayer. In this prayer, Jesus prayed for unity among believers, giving the example of his unity with the Father. Jesus prayed for all believers (both the current disciples and all future believers) “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.”
As you look at the pronouns in this passage (John 14:20-26), they are all plural (them, those, their, them, they, them, they, them, they, them, those, they, them, them, them). Fifteen plural pronouns directed toward Jesus’ current and future disciples, so that “the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (v. 21)
As Americans, we typically make individual decisions, giving priority to our own needs over the needs of any group that we may be associated with. Often our Christianity reflects this. Many believe in Jesus, but feel no need to be part of a church or to fellowship with other believers. However, this is not God’s intent. Believers compose the church, and through the church the gospel is spread to the world. As individuals, we are often not very effective, but as a group, we are amazingly effective at showing God’s love to the world.