To finish off our last blog, here in v.23-26 Jesus comes to the end of His prayer. In v.23 He reminds His disciples that He is in them, just as the Father is in the Son. This is the glory of the church. Then Jesus links them with the kingdom of God. He says--that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know Thou did send Me and did love them even as Thou did love Me.
There are three thoughts here.
First, His followers are perfected in unity. We can remember Matthew 5.48--you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. Now we see this perfection is given by the sanctifying word of truth. But also notice the perfection is in unity.
The second thought is--that they world may know that Thou did send Me... This is the message of Matt. 28.19. It is the city set on a hill, to be salt and light to the world, that those who live in darkness may see a great light.
The third thought is--Thou did love them even as Thou did love Me.
The innermost EL of God is that He is love. The great commandment given to Moses was to love God. No one but Jesus would know that the Father loves the Son's followers just as He loves the Son.
Then in v.24 Jesus reveals His own heart, His own love. He says--I desire that they also whom Thou has given Me, be with Me where I am. Why is this the desire of the heart of Jesus--That they may behold My glory which Thou has given Me before the foundation of the world.. Paul will say to the Ephesians--He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.
How could His followers even stand before God in His glory--That the love wherewith Thou did love Me may be in them and I in them.
Pretty cool stuff.
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