Page 105 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

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these things in the world so that they may have My joy completed in them. I have given them Your word.
The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. I am not praying
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that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world,
as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world,
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I also have sent them into the world. I sanctify Myself for them, so they also may be sanctified by the truth.
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When Jesus Prayed for You

John faithfully recorded the Lord’s prayer on the eve of His arrest, in which He interceded for you and me. He
went to His Father on our behalf, knowing our needs ahead of time and asking that each of them be fulfilled in
abundance. Think of it! He prayed for us! In fact, He prayed specifically for three crucial needs:

• our spiritual unity (17:21 – 23)
• our eternal destiny (17:24)
• our mutual love (17:25 – 26)

First, our Lord asked for unity among the body of believers. He
repeated the theme 3 times in 3 versus, expressing His desire for our
unity in faith (17:20 B – 21), our unity in glory (17:22), and our unity
in obedience (17:23). We cannot ignore the significance of the Lord’s
thinking of all the needs of all believers throughout all time, and then
asking for unity among all of them. (Swindoll) He realized that unity
was the defining characteristic that sends a message to the world
that there is something different about us. This is the same truth that
we found in John 13:34 – 35!

Swindoll continues to elaborate on unity by saying this. Unity is not
unification. I don’t think Jesus Christ is half as disturbed as many
people are by the existence of various denominations. The manner
in which some believers broke away from others might not have
been admirable, and the doctrines of some are not as pure as others; however, the concept of churches differing
on nonessential matters and maintaining distinct identities is not necessarily dangerous to unity. It is quite
possible to differ while fulfilling a common purpose. On the other hand, some extremists seek reasons to separate.
Some believers are unable to distinguish between essential and nonessential matters of doctrine and behave
arrogantly toward those who disagree, perceiving more divisions than there are.

I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all
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be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe
You sent Me. I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am
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in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and
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have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am.
Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.
25 Righteous Father! The world has not known You. However, I have known You, and these have known
that You sent Me. I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love
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You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.

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