Last Words
Bound Together by Love
Jeremy Peters - June 13, 2021
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” —John 17:20 NIV
LIFE WITHIN THE TRINITY
What is life between the Father and the Son really like? What does it mean that they have perfect union with each other? What is life within the Trinity like? How do the Father and Son and Spirit experience one another?
The Shyness of Holy Spirit
“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” —John 14:26
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. —John 16:13-14
The Shyness of Jesus
“If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing.” —John 8:54
Jesus said I did not come to be served, but to serve. —Mark 10:45
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. —Matthew 4:1
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” —Luke 22:42
“I only do what I see my Father doing” —John 5:19-20, John 8:28
The Shyness of the Father
“And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” —Matthew 3:17
“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” —Matthew 17:5
UNITY IS MISSION CRITICAL
I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. —John 17:23
“I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” —John 17:26
Jesus models the miracle of unity the midst of diversity that provides a witness to the world.
Case Study: the Twelve Disciples
LOVE IS WHAT BINDS US TOGETHER
1. Seek understanding with those who think differently than you
2. Don’t let offense go unchecked.
“There is a false sense of self-protection in harboring an offense. It keeps you from seeing your own character flaws because the blame is deferred to another. You never have to face your role, your immaturity, or your sin because you see only the faults of the offender. Therefore, God’s attempt to develop character in you by this opposition is now abandoned.” —John Bevere
Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the LORD forgave you, so you must forgive one another. —Colossians 3:13
3. Ask “What does love require?”
If I was going to give expression to the very character of God, of Jesus himself; if I was going to live out of the love that is shared amongst the Trinity, and bring the love that is shared there to bear on this current challenge; this current annoyance; this current difficulty…
…what would I do? What would I say? What would I not say? What action might it call for? What “right” of mine, might I need to lay down? What desire might I need to defer?
“When long-standing feuds have been resolved, apologies have been made, and pardons have been sought, confessions have been uttered and a breaking down of dislikes and disagreements, separations and withdrawals occurs among Christian people, it is invariably followed by the [watching] world… sitting up and beginning to take notice of the Christian message.” —Ray Stedman
“Then the world will know that you have sent me…” —John 17:26b
APPRENTICESHIP PRAYER PARTNER QUESTIONS:
Invite the Spirit to bring to your mind a relationship that is currently strained or difficult or stressful or complicated.
Ask Jesus:
“Have I really sought to understand where they’re coming from, or am I only filtering things through my perspective?”
“Have I allowed any offenses to go unchecked? Where do I need to forgive?”
“What does love require of me?”