Real unity flows from the Gospel, where the love of God permeates our life together. And despite our petty differences, this gift continues to be given.
In the Church Year, this Sunday falls between the Ascension of our Lord to the right hand of the Father and the Feast of Pentecost. In this context, it is fitting to focus on Jesus’ prayer in the upper room. It is a prayer to His Father at the moment when the hour for His glory had come; a prayer for His disciples, a prayer for those He has called out of the world. This prayer still echoes powerfully in the life of the Church today as we endure and await the return of Christ.
In this text, we get just the closing section of His prayer. It would be helpful for your hearers to set the scene, to give some context to the structure and flow of the prayer up to this point. Especially useful are His words concerning His departure and the petition of how His disciples would be set aside and kept in the truth. In verse 17, Jesus prays, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.” This is the ground or foundation for the unity He speaks of in the section before us.
What makes this text so striking is that Jesus is not just praying for those disciples gathered with Him on that Thursday evening but for us here and now as well. He says, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word” (verse 20). He prays for the Apostolic Church. Therefore, He is also praying for the hearers of your sermon who believe through the Word proclaimed.
And what is it Jesus desires for the hearers of the Word? That they may be one, that they are united in the truth. In fact, He prays that “they may become perfectly one” (verse 23). Note how the root of the word translated “perfectly” (τελειόω) carries with it the idea of a completed reality. The goal of the fellowship, the goal of those who receive the Word of truth is unity. And the measure of such unity is nothing less than that of the Father and the Son, “that they may be one even as We are one” (verse 22).
The goal of the fellowship, the goal of those who receive the Word of truth is unity.
A sermon on this text would do well to focus on what it is that breaks the unity of the faithful. The examples are plentiful to be sure, but it would be worth the time to explore some in detail. Rhetorically, I would suggest starting broadly and narrowing the field as you delve deeper into the diagnosis, moving from the general to the specific. What are the failures to love which divide the visible church along denominational and even cultural lines? How have arrogance and pride contributed to the separation of Christians from one another? Perhaps you then move to divisions on a national level. How have political allegiances and social pressures brought further division? Ultimately, you need to get to the specific body of Christ gathered in worship with you. What breaks the unity of the people hearing your words? Use examples. We have all heard stories of churches dividing over things as trivial as the color of the new carpet in the sanctuary. How much pressure does it take for sin to break love with the very people who sit beside them on a Sunday morning?
Yet, Christ still prays for their unity, and the remedy is not some cheap washing over of differences to simply put on the mask of unity. Real unity is founded in the truth, the Word of truth which calls, gathers, and enlightens the whole Christian Church on earth. Real unity flows from the Gospel, where the love of God permeates our life together. And despite our petty differences, this gift continues to be given.
Here, then, you proclaim forgiveness in Christ with reckless abandon. Our Lord’s prayer for His Church comes to fruition as His Word kills and brings forth new life. Repent and believe, the preacher says, “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all” (Romans 11:32). This mercy again establishes the unity of the fellowship. It has always been this way and will continue to be so until Christ returns.
Perhaps you might even use Tertullian’s observation as he comments on how the unbelieving world views the Church, to offer us a picture of what our Lord prays for. He says:
“It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See, they say, how they love one another, for they themselves are animated by mutual hatred. See, they say about us, how they are ready even to die for one another, for they themselves would sooner kill” (The Apology, 39).
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out out 1517’s resources on John 17:20-26.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching John 17:20-26.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaeching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
