John 17 | What's a lesson for the original audience?

Having already taken note of the emphasis this passage takes on unity, something that was particularly on the disciples' minds was how Jesus prayed. They ask Jesus directly in Luke 11 to teach them how to pray. It was notable what Jesus saw as important to pray for. The fact that Jesus prays for unity as one of the disciples already took off and was about to betray them is also notable.

As the original audience was undergoing intense persecution, spiritual warfare, and still endeavoring to maintain unity, the reflection on Jesus' prayer would stand out massively. The emphasis is first on their relationship with the Lord. They can have the confidence that the Lord would not leave nor forsake them. So as they are in the world but not of the world, the question arises of who they are of. They are of the Lord. They belong to Him. It is out of that place that unity becomes possible.

The first relationship the believer is to be concerned with is their relationship with the Lord. Even Jesus in this prayer reflects on His relationship with the Father and then concerns himself with His disciples. It is out of the relationship between the Father and the Son that Jesus prays over His disciples. So it makes sense that Jesus would be concerned with the relationship between the disciples and the Lord before even bringing unity into the prayer. It is the simple command love God and love others that drives this. Those are not separate things, but things joined together. The love of God fuels the love for others and the love for others confirms the love of God. It becomes cyclical, and growth is the result.

So in simple, the lesson for the original audience is a reflection of Jesus' prayer. His desire is for unity with the Lord and unity among believers.

What lesson are you seeing?