Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
If I opened the Bible to look for evidence of the truth noted above, I’d go first to passages about the cross of Christ. John 3:16 predicts it well — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” That’s love. He died — for me.
If I turned the pages of Scripture for additional proof that “Jesus loves me, this I know,” I’d probably turn to the text Pastor Ryan preached from last Sunday, John 17:20-26. In this part of Jesus’ High Priestly prayer, in the final hours of his earthly life, he prays for me. He prays for ME! He sees ME, he knows ME, and his mind is on ME — as some futuristic Jesus follower 20 centuries later — Jesus prays for me. And if you’re reading this and are a member of his Church, his prayer is prayed specifically with you in mind, too.
Who do you pray the most for? Maybe you, your spouse, your parents, or your children? Or maybe a few close friends come to mind when you pray. Can you imagine praying for people who won’t even be born for about 2000 years? Jesus imagined it and he did it. That’s how much he loves his church. That’s how much he loves me and you.
Listen in… as Jesus prays…
“Father I pray that all of them may be one, may they be brought to complete unity to let the world know you’ve loved them as you have loved me. Just as you are in me and I am in you, may they (all those who will come to faith in the future)… may they also be in us, so that the world will believe that you have sent me.”
This oneness, this “you in me, I in you, they in us” picture of “complete unity” was the passionate pleading cry of the almost arrested, beaten, mocked, crucified Savior of the world.
How are we doing church, at honoring that prayer? Are we unified? Are we most focused on oneness and what we share in common — faith in our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus?
How do we grow unity? Where do we begin? With a solid foundation, a foundation of LOVE. It’s why Jesus humbled himself back in John chapter 13 with a towel, a water basin, and two dozen filthy feet.
Love is the foundation of unity. Love humbly serves — which grows unity. Love sincerely forgives — which restores unity. Love is intentionally kind — which inspires unity. Loving one another well, brothers and sisters will unify us as His church, His body of believers, and His beloved bride.
Donielle Winter
EFCC Member