John 17:16 “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world…”
Here’s a truth: We are not of this world any more than Jesus was of this world… the love we have is divine and the oneness this love produces is as foreign to the world as Jesus’ way was and is to this world - and it is our privilege to reveal to the world this love and invite them to be as alien as we are…
Jesus brought together 12 men of distinct personalities and understanding, political views, and expectations. Men who argued with one another about who would be the greatest, the most important, the leader, “lord” (Matt 20:26-27; 23:10-11; Mark 9:35; 10:43-44; Lu 22:26-27). Throughout their time together Jesus had to repeatedly bring them back to what He was working to instill in them - that just as He and the Father were one (Jo 1:1-2; 10:30; 14:10; 17:21), they too, would (have to) be one, and just as Jesus’ and the Father being one expressed the love they had for each other to the disciples, so it would be the mutual love the disciples would have for one another that would speak God’s love to that same world (Ro 12:10; Gal 5:6; 1Pe 4:8; 1Jo 3:11, 23; 2Jo 1:5)
John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 15:12-13 “My command is this: Love each other as I have lovers you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for His friends.”
Just as Jesus assembled His disciples to make them one, so now He assembles us together into one body (1Cor 12) that we would be one, loving one another as Jesus and the Father love one another, as Jesus loves us, we are now to love one another - proving to be His disciples - being like Him.
The great miracle of Jesus is that He could take such disparate parts and make us one - together: one body - this is why it is our oneness that speaks to the world that we are different, that God is among us, that the love that we share is not the love of this world, but the love of God, and this love can be their’s, too.
Go, invade the world, plunder the prince of this world, take back that which is Mine… (Matt 28:19)
John 17:20-26 “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (Jo 3:16; 17:18-19; 20:21-22) - to invade the world with my glory: me in you with and by power - with the love and light and life. For us to be sent into the world, we must have first been taken out of this world, as to no longer be a part of this world - we are from the world, sent into the world, not to be of the world, but bring light to the world.
We do not belong to this world any more than Jesus does - we are aliens and strangers (1Pet 1)
We are called to a oneness that reflects the very glory of God, the light, the brightness of Jesus in us
Together, we
Experience joy complete (Jo 15:11; 17:13; Ro 15:13; Ph 2:2; Heb 12:2) and inexpressible (1Pet 1; Ps 16)
Reflect this glory, this bright light of Christ, to the world (Matt 5:14-15; Jo 8:12; 9:5; 2Cor 4:6; Phil 2:15)
John 17:22-23
"the glorious condition of blessedness into which it is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven": Romans 8:18, 21; Romans 9:23; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Colossians 1:27 (twice; cf. Meyer at the passage); Colossians 3:4; 2 Timothy 2:10; Hebrews 2:10; 1 Peter 5:1; which condition begins to be enjoyed even now through the devout contemplation of the divine majesty of Christ, and its influence upon those who contemplate it, 2 Corinthians 3:18; and this condition will include not only the blessedness of the soul, but also the gain of a more excellent body (1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:21)
How do we best and most effectively express this oneness?
Philippians 2:1-11
Reflecting on God’s mercy and grace: 2:1
Joy complete! Being of one mind and mission: 2:2-4
In humility, consider others and better than yourself: 2:2-4
In our relationships, we should have the same attitude as Jesus: 2:5-8
