By Miguel Lara

What do you do when you are about to take a long trip away from home, leaving your family behind? Probably you take time to talk to them about your trip and leave them with instructions on what to do while you are gone. As a Christian you would also commend yourself to God, to your journey, and most importantly to the family that you leave behind. Imagine the case that you never return from this trip. Then these words become utterly important and have a meaning that reflects our affection for our families and our commitment to God. 

In John 17:6-21, Jesus prayed for those whom the Father gave him (his disciples). He prayed for protection upon them. Jesus prayed for their union and asked for their sanctification by the means of the truth (the Word). Jesus finally prayed for all future believers (which includes us), that they would also be one. As we can read, the subject of unity was important to Jesus. 

Not of this World

In this text we read that Jesus would return to a status of glory that he previously enjoyed. The spiritual anticipation of Heaven is exactly what Jesus desired for his disciples and also for all of us. He eagerly wants us to join him there. 

Let us imagine for a moment a vision in which we are ascending into Heaven and able to see the glory of Jesus; we are also able to witness the love that the Father has for Jesus and for us. What does this vision mean to our spiritual lives? Will it affect our way of living and praying? the way we see suffering? the way we see missions and evangelism? I truly believe it can. 

The Body of Believers

Jesus’ heart was set on unity as we clearly see in John 17. The spiritual oneness of God’s people was to be the heritage of God’s glory, but what has happened? Is the body of believers really united? 

The reality is that the lack of unity is written all over God’s church. But what are we doing about it? Are we praying for this unity as Christ prayed for it? If not, let us follow Jesus’ example in this as well. 

Miguel Lara, a minister from Venezuela, is working on a Master of Divinity at Cincinnati Christian University. He and his wife, Alejandra, have three children, Andreina, Sabrina, and David Alejandro.