“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:20-23 (ESV).
How are God and Jesus one?
We have a great and holy calling to be one as the Father and the Son are one. If we want to become one like Them, we must follow the Son on the narrow way that leads to life.
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38 (ESV).
“Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” Hebrews 5:8-9 (ESV).
Here we can see how the Father and the Son became one. Jesus was born into the human race and He became the Son of Man (1 Timothy 2:5). As the Son of Man, as a human being, he learned obedience. It was not easy for Him but He learned it through sufferings, and in Isaiah 53 we read about some of the sufferings through which He learned obedience.
“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10 (ESV).
Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done!” Luke 22:42 (ESV). This “my will” was the will of the human race, Jesus’ will as the Son of Man. This will had to be crushed so that the Lord’s will could be done through Him, and here Jesus had to be a sacrifice. He went this way of his own free will. He chose it! This was a new and living way which He opened for us so that we might follow Him (Hebrews 10:20). This was the way where the will of man was crushed and where the whole fullness of God's nature came to live in human form (Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9).
We have received great and precious promises through the knowledge of Him, so that we can also share in God's nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).
How do we become one as the Father and the Son are one?
Today, we have the same possibilities as Jesus had if we are also willing to be a sacrifice. Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who obeys Him (Hebrews 5:9). On this way we become one as the Father and the Son are one.
This is so important that Paul says it was for this reason that he received grace and apostleship to bring people among all nations to the obedience of faith (Romans 1:5). But it is impossible to learn obedience without being willing to be crushed, without being willing to suffer.
There are many people who try to get the different religious groups to become one, but it is useless. The leaders are great in their own eyes, they have their own strong opinions, and the members who take sides do the same. This is why there is constant fighting and bitterness within and between different religious groups. They do not want to be crushed. Many of them speak about love and read 1 Corinthians 13, but you cannot get this love without being willing to be crushed, without giving up your own pride and strong opinions.
We can also read what love does not do: It is not envious, it is not arrogant, it does not seek its own, does not become bitter, does not think evil, etc. People who are not willing to be crushed become bitter, seek their own, and are arrogant. Such people can never be one. They always seem to have a reason to be offended instead of taking up their cross, denying themselves, and judging their own selfishness and hardness.
We also read of what loves does do: It is patient; it rejoices in the truth and endures all things; it believes all things, hopes all things, and bears all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Colossians 3:12-14). When others become difficult and stubborn, most people say: “I won’t put up with that. There must be a limit to what a person should have to endure.” Instead of allowing themselves to be crushed, they become hard and defend themselves and their own rights and opinions. Instead of forgiving as Jesus forgave us, they become evil and speak badly about their brother or sister.
Maybe you don’t like someone, but even though you are still polite and smile, you keep your distance. You do not want to have fellowship in the Spirit with him. Your pride cannot bear the other person just as he is. You do not want your pride to be crushed so you can get the love that bears all things and hopes all things. Of course, you do not want to argue with him, so you keep a polite distance. But this is not being one as the Father and the Son are one.
The fulfilment of Jesus’ prayer for Christian unity
Blessed are they who have come to understand how the Son is one with the Father, and who want to follow the Son on this new and living way. Jesus’ prayer is being fulfilled in their lives, and they always have it glorious together. They walk in the light as He is in the light, and the blood of Jesus cleanses them from all sin. They have fellowship with one another. (1 John 1:7.)
Thanks be to God for this glorious salvation, and that we can share in it when we are willing to be a sacrifice, and that more and more people can share in it. In this fellowship in the light, Satan is not able to get in.