What if it's a Good Thing...?

I was reading in John the other day and an idea struck me: Could it be a good thing that this world, and particularly America, is so divided? Let me explain...

In the account of John, the last thing Jesus prays over His disciples is for their unity. Not only the twelve disciples, but future believers also:

"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. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:20-23)

As I read this the other day, it occurred to me that, if God can bring together a people who believe so many different things (and sometimes with equal fervor on all sides), that certainly would fulfill what Jesus said here -- that the world would know He is the Savior by the unity of the church. 

But we're pretty divided, aren't we? Well, what about His disciples, who he was praying for specifically in these verses? Were they as divided as we are?

This article has really great information about the disciples and their differences, mostly prominently seen in Simon the Zealot (who wanted to overthrow the Roman government by force) and Matthew the tax collector (who worked for the Roman government). These are two extremes that somehow got along in the same small group for three years. Not only these two, but the disciples seemed to often be concerned with who was "the greatest" among them, a strange power struggle somewhat natural to humankind, but counter to effective ministry work. 

So how did Jesus keep these young men together? I think there are some keys in these verses from John 17 that may help with our own understanding of unity and what it requires:

1. Divine Protection: The battle is spiritual and so we need spiritual weapons, as well as spiritual protection. Jesus prayed, "Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me." (John 17:11-12a), and also in verse 15, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." Most of us know the part of the Lord's Prayer that says, "Deliver us from the evil one." Apparently there are serious spiritual forces working against us, so it's no wonder that Jesus prayed this over the disciples.
2. Sanctification: In verses 16-19, it reads, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." Sanctify means to make holy, set apart. This probably ties into the divine protection, as we are purified from sin and set apart for the good works before us. This happens through Christ and the Word of God -- which is somewhat redundant as Jesus is the Word incarnate -- though that leads to a really practical application in that we can simply soak in scripture to sanctify ourselves. But to carry it even further...
3. Abide: Jesus spoke often about "abiding," or staying attached to God, like branches attached to a vine. This is all about love -- between Jesus and the Father, between us and Christ, God's love for us, and our love for each other as an expression of this abiding. Just typing it out makes it feel so dynamic that it is even difficult for words to capture the dance that is happening. In verse 21, Jesus prays: "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," and similarly in verse 23: "Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." Also, verse 26 reads: "I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." It's our connection to Christ that makes unity possible.
4. Glory: Verse 22 reads, "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one." But what is glory and what does that mean? Earlier in this chapter, Jesus says, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." In this context, it seems that part of glory is accomplishing the work of God, especially in sharing with others this gift of God, eternal life. 

"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy my be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:8-12)

Those verses from John 15 sum it up pretty well: abiding in God is our source that allows us to keep his commands, which is plainly put in love one another. Just as Jesus said, loving one another is what will show the world that He is who He said He was, leading to saving faith for others, which is to the glory of God. 

And so, if God can take as divided a bunch as the Twelve Disciples (and furthermore, the divided church we see today), and bring them all together -- that certainly would prove His wisdom and power, wouldn't it? So let's take these words of Jesus and let them purify our hearts, praying for protection while abiding in His love and letting it manifest itself in our love for each other, all to the glory of God.