And this is eternal life

.... that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3). I ... pray ... “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (verse 21). These words are taken from the  high priestly prayer Jesus prayed,  knowing that the hour had come for the Father to glorify Him though the cross (verse 1).  In verse 3 above, He is telling us that the very essence of eternal life, life in its fulness in the here and now, and life for ever in the hereafter,  this life is to be found in relationship with the Father and the Son.  We get this wrong in so many ways, looking for love in all the wrong places, in the abundance of things, in power and influence, in our ministries, in our goals and  ambitions, and in our dreams. 

Since the essence of eternal life is in this relationship,  our highest priority therefore,  needs to be the nurturing of it. Functional relationships are two sided. For His part,  He has taken the initiative in making it possible in the first place. The Father has  done this in loving the World enough to send, and the Son to give,  His life on the Cross.   Based on this He issues forth the invitation to come into this relationship.  Our part, as the Bride of Christ, is to respond to the extravagant love poured out for us in this way.  In a marriage relationship the natural thing is to please ones's spouse (1 Corinthians 7:33). And the way to please our “spouse” Jesus,  is to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength,  and our neighbour as ourselves.

The word “all” is important in His prayer that  “all may be one” (verse 21).  It is far too easy to want to cut loose those who are not so easy to love. But is it how we love the least lovable among us,  that the World may believe,  or disbelieve,  that the Father sent the Son.  And what Jesus prays for, is that that we should exhibit the very same oneness that exists between the Father and the Son.  We cannot do this without Him! But be encouraged,  He is praying for it, and so that when we fully cooperate with Him, it will happen. 

Father, Lord Jesus, please give us a revelation of what Your oneness with each other looks like. If we are to enter into this Lord, then the deeds and passions of the sinful nature, need to die. Thank You Lord that You have given us each other to do this, as we rub up against each other in the iron sharpening iron process (Proverbs 27:17). May we provoke one another to love and good works Lord so that we may truly be one, and that Your name may receive the Glory in Your Holy Name Amen