Prayer for Unity 1
May 26th, 2010
Not long before his death, Jesus prayed for unity among those who believe in him. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:20-21).
Implied in Jesus’ prayer for unity is that people can understand the message of the apostles: “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” We have this message today in the four gospels and the inspired letters of Peter, John, Paul, and others. Yet, the assumption today is that people cannot understand the Bible, or that one interpretation is as good as another.
I listened to a preacher recently who said that faith in Christ is all we should expect of people because many differ on baptism. Where he preaches, people are no longer required to be baptized because he does not wish to be contentious about it. This is the practice of unity at all costs; that is, if someone views a matter differently, then ignore the difference.
Jesus, however, did not practice unity at all costs. The disciples came to him on one occasion and questioned him about his message. “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”(Matthew 15:12). He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots” (v. 13). On another occasion, he said, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me” (Matthew 11:6).
So, the prayer of Jesus for unity is to be based on the message of the gospel which is in the Bible. It is not a prayer for unity in diversity but unity based on obedience to truth. Jesus also prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).
J B Myers
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