John 17:23
I in them and You in Me--that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
I in them
This phrase emphasizes the indwelling presence of Christ within believers. The Greek word for "in" is "ἐν" (en), which denotes a fixed position or state. This signifies a profound spiritual union where Christ resides within the hearts of His followers, empowering and transforming them. This indwelling is a fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit, who acts as the presence of Christ in the believer's life, guiding and sanctifying them.

and You in Me
Here, Jesus speaks of the intimate relationship between Himself and the Father. The Greek preposition "ἐν" (en) again highlights the unity and oneness shared between the Father and the Son. This relationship is foundational to the Christian faith, illustrating the perfect harmony and mutual indwelling within the Trinity. It serves as a model for the unity believers are to have with Christ and with one another.

that they may be perfectly united
The phrase "perfectly united" comes from the Greek word "τετελειωμένοι" (teteleiōmenoi), which means to be made complete or perfect. This speaks to the ultimate goal of Christian unity, which is not just organizational or superficial but a deep, spiritual oneness that reflects the unity of the Godhead. This unity is achieved through love, truth, and the work of the Holy Spirit, and it is a testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel.

so that the world may know
The purpose of this unity is missional. The Greek word "γινώσκω" (ginōskō) means to know or recognize. The unity of believers serves as a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating the reality of Christ's mission and the truth of the Gospel. It is through the visible love and unity of the church that the world can see the evidence of God's love and the authenticity of Jesus' divine sending.

that You sent Me
This phrase underscores the divine mission of Jesus. The Greek word "ἀπέστειλας" (apesteilas) means to send forth with a commission. It highlights the authority and purpose with which Jesus was sent into the world by the Father. This sending is central to the Gospel message, as it affirms Jesus as the Messiah and the Savior of the world, sent to redeem humanity.

and have loved them just as You have loved Me
The love of the Father for the Son is the same love extended to believers. The Greek word for love here is "ἠγάπησας" (ēgapēsas), which is the verb form of "agape," denoting unconditional, selfless love. This profound statement reveals the depth of God's love for His people, equating it with the perfect love shared within the Trinity. It assures believers of their value and identity in Christ, rooted in the eternal love of God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
- The speaker of this prayer, Jesus is addressing God the Father, expressing His desire for unity among His followers.

2. God the Father
- The recipient of Jesus' prayer, He is the one who sent Jesus into the world and loves the believers.

3. The Disciples/Believers
- The immediate audience of Jesus' prayer, representing all future believers who will come to faith through their message.

4. The World
- Refers to the broader human society that will witness the unity and love among believers as a testimony of Jesus' divine mission.
Teaching Points
Unity in Christ
Jesus' prayer emphasizes the importance of unity among believers, reflecting the unity between Jesus and the Father. This unity is not just organizational but spiritual and relational.

The Witness of Love
The love and unity among believers serve as a powerful testimony to the world about the truth of Jesus' mission and the reality of God's love.

The Indwelling Presence
The phrase "I in them and You in Me" highlights the indwelling presence of Christ in believers, which is foundational for achieving perfect unity.

Reflecting Divine Love
Believers are called to reflect the same love that the Father has for the Son, which is a love that transcends human understanding and is rooted in divine relationship.

Practical Unity
Unity is not merely a theological concept but a practical reality that should be evident in the way believers interact, support, and love one another.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the unity among believers reflect the relationship between Jesus and the Father, and why is this important for our witness to the world?

2. In what ways can we actively pursue and maintain unity within our local church community?

3. How does understanding the indwelling presence of Christ in us change the way we relate to other believers?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to demonstrate the love of God to those around us, both within and outside the church?

5. How can the teachings in Ephesians 4:3-6 and Colossians 3:14 help us to better understand and apply the concept of unity in our daily lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
John 13:34-35
Jesus commands His disciples to love one another, which is a testament to their unity and a witness to the world.

Ephesians 4:3-6
Paul emphasizes the importance of maintaining unity in the Spirit, highlighting the oneness of the body of Christ.

1 John 4:12
The love of God is perfected in us when we love one another, showing the indwelling presence of God.

Colossians 3:14
Love is described as the perfect bond of unity, which aligns with Jesus' prayer for perfect unity among believers.
Christ in ManR. F. Horton, M. A.John 17:23
The Father's Love to the BelieverC. New.John 17:23
The Indwelling of ChristJ. L. Nye.John 17:23
The Three UnionsW. Norris.John 17:23
The Union of Believers with ChristJohn 17:23
Unity in Nature and GraceW. Dell.John 17:23
Christian UnityB. Thomas John 17:20-23
Christ's Glory Given to His PeopleW. W. Wythe.John 17:22-23
Saints Glorified on EarthJ. Stevens.John 17:22-23
The Church's Unity and its InfluenceJ. Spence, D. D.John 17:22-23
The Glory Christ Gives to His DisciplesF. Godet, D. D.John 17:22-23
The Glory, Unity, and Triumph of the ChurchC. H. Spurgeon.John 17:22-23
The Mutual Glory of Christ and His PeopleB. Beddome, M. A.John 17:22-23
True GloryD. Thomas, D. D.John 17:22-23
People
Jesus, Disciples
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Clear, Completely, Hast, Love, Loved, Lovedst, Perfect, Perfected, Perfectly, Stand, Understand, Unity
Dictionary of Bible Themes
John 17:23

     1085   God, love of
     5844   emotions
     7025   church, unity
     8102   abiding in Christ
     8322   perfection, human

John 17:1-26

     2360   Christ, prayers of
     8603   prayer, relationship with God

John 17:6-26

     8611   prayer, for others

John 17:11-23

     7622   disciples, characteristics

John 17:20-23

     6718   reconciliation, believers

John 17:20-24

     7142   people of God, NT

John 17:20-26

     2212   Christ, head of church
     6755   union with Christ, nature of

John 17:21-23

     5783   agreement
     7032   unity, God's people

John 17:21-25

     1511   Trinity, relationships in

John 17:22-23

     7030   unity

John 17:23-24

     2078   Christ, sonship of

Library
October 10 Evening
After this manner . . . pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven.--MATT. 6:9. Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father.--My Father, and your Father. Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.--Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

August 10 Morning
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but thou shouldest keep them from the evil.--JOHN 17:15. Blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.--Ye are the salt of the earth, . . . the light of the world.--Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is heaven. I also withheld thee from sinning against me. The Lord is faithful,
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 20 Morning
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.--JOHN 17:16. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.--In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.--That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Jesus of Nazareth . . . went about doing good, and
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 21 Morning
I am the Lord which sanctify you.--LEV. 20:8. I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. Sanctified by God the Father.--Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.--The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus . . . that he might
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 16 Morning
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.--JOHN 17:17. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.--Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul: discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 27 Morning
The glory which thou gavest me I have given them.--JOHN 17:22. I saw . . . the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.--These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.--Upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness . . . of a man above upon it. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 13 Evening
Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.--EPH. 2:18. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one. Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 1 Morning
This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,. . . I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.--PHI. 3:13,14. Father, I will that they . . . whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me.--I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.--He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 4 Evening
I have glorified thee on the earth.--JOHN 17:4. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.--I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.--This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 25 Evening
The spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.--ROM. 8:15. Jesus . . . lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, . . . Holy Father, . . . O righteous Father.--He said, Abba, Father.--Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.--For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and of the household of God. Doubtless thou
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 12 Morning
They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.--MAL. 3:17. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am: that
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

December 31. "I Pray not that Thou Shouldst Take them Out of the World, but that Thou Shouldst Keep them from the Evil" (John xvii. 15).
"I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep them from the evil" (John xvii. 15). He wants us here for some higher purpose than mere existence. That purpose is nothing else than to represent Him to the world, to be the messengers of His Gospel and His will to men, and by our lives to exhibit to them the true life, and teach them how to live it themselves. He is representing us yonder, and our one business is to represent Him here. We are just as truly sent
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

November 5. "I in Them, and Thou in Me" (John xvii. 23).
"I in them, and Thou in Me" (John xvii. 23). If we would be enlarged to the full measure of God's purpose, let us endeavor to realize something of our own capacities for His filling. We little know the size of a human soul and spirit. Never, until He renews, cleanses and enters the heart can we have any adequate conception of the possibilities of the being whom God made in His very image, and whom He now renews after the pattern of the Lord Jesus Himself. We know, however, that God has made the human
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

December 11. "I Pray not for the World, but for Them" (John xvii. 9).
"I pray not for the world, but for them" (John xvii. 9). How often we say we would like to get some strong spirit to pray for us, and feel so helped when we think they are carrying us in their faith. But there is One whose prayers never fail to be fulfilled and who is more willing to give them to us than any human friend. His one business at God's right hand is to make intercession for His people, and we are simply coming in the line of His own appointment and His own definite promise and provision,
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Folded Flock
I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory.'--JOHN xvii. 24. This wonderful prayer is (a) for Jesus Himself, (b) for the Apostles, (c) for the whole Church on earth and in heaven. I. The prayer. 'I will' has a strange ring of authority. It is the expression of His love to men, and of His longing for their presence with Him in His glory. Not till they are with Him there, shall He 'see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.' We
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

Christ's Summary of his Work
'I have declared onto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.'--JOHN xvii. 26. This is the solemn and calm close of Christ's great High-priestly prayer; the very last words that He spoke before Gethsemane and His passion. In it He sums up both the purpose of His life and the petitions of His prayer, and presents the perfect fulfilment of the former as the ground on which He asks the fulfilment of the latter. There is a singular
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

The Intercessor
'These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

'The Lord Thee Keeps'
...They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.'--JOHN xvii. 14-16. We have here a petition imbedded in a reiterated statement of the disciples' isolated position when left in a hostile world without Christ's sheltering presence. We cannot fathom the depth of the mystery of the praying Christ, but we may be sure of this,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

The High Priest's Prayer
'Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou givest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

Sixteenth Day. Holiness and Truth.
Make them holy in the Truth: Thy word is Truth.'--John xvii. 17. 'God chose you unto salvation in sanctification and belief of the Truth.'--2 Thess. ii. 12. The chief means of sanctification that God uses is His word. And yet how much there is of reading and studying, of teaching and preaching the word, that has almost no effect in making men holy. It is not the word that sanctifies; it is God Himself who alone can sanctify. Nor is it simply through the word that God does it, but through
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Seventeenth Day. Holiness and Crucifixion.
For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.'--John xvii. 19. 'He said, Lo, I am come to do Thy will. In which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.'--Heb. x. 9, 10, 14. It was in His High-priestly prayer, on His way to Gethsemane and Calvary, that Jesus thus spake to the Father: 'I sanctify myself.' He had not long before spoken
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

The Plenary Inspiration of Every Part of the Bible, vindicated and Explained. --Nature of Inspiration. --The Text of Scripture.
Thy Word is Truth. I THANKFULLY avail myself of the opportunity which, unexpected and unsolicited, so soon presents itself, to proceed with the subject which was engaging our attention when I last occupied this place. Let me remind you of the nature of the present inquiry, and of the progress which we have already made. Taking Holy Scripture for our subject, and urging, as best we knew how, its paramount claims on the daily attention of the younger men,--who at present are our hope and ornament;
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

August the Twenty-Fourth the Lord's Body
"I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do." --JOHN xvii. 1-11. This quiet confession is in itself a token of our Lord's divinity. The serenity in which He makes His claims is as stupendous as the claims themselves. "Finished," perfected in the utmost refinement, to the last, remotest detail! Nothing scamped, nothing overlooked, nothing forgotten! Everything which concerns thy redemption and my redemption has been accomplished. "It is finished!" "And now ... I come to Thee." The visible
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

The Cure of Evil-Speaking
"If thy brother shall sin against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear, take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he will not hear them, tell it to the Church. But if he does not hear the church, let him be to thee as an heathen man and a publican." Matt. 18:15-17 1. "Speak evil of no man," says the great Apostle: -- As plain a
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

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