Christ grounded his disciples in God’s love and the Spirit’s power, asking his Father to keep them from the Evil One, and sanctify them by the Gospel before his handing over to be crucified. After becoming sure that the prayer on behalf of his apostles and the Church was answered, he looked forward to the future and saw multitudes of believers springing from the message of his apostles. The image of the crucified Victor over Satan and sin drew them in. Through their trust in the living Christ the Spirit would descend into their hearts, so that they would share in the grace of divine life. By faith they were united with the Father and Son in eternal oneness.
Christ prayed for those believers, who would believe through the apostles. Surprisingly, when he prayed they were not yet found. His words prove the basic trustworthiness of the apostle’s message. So what is the gist of his demand for us? Did he pray for our health? our prosperity, our future success? No! He asked his Father to grant us humility and love, so that we may be one with all sincere Christians. We should not think we are better than others, or find their conduct unbearable.
The unity of believers is the aim of Christ, the Church that is split contradicts his plan for it. However, this unity that Christ requested cannot be built on ecclesiastical arrangements, but is a spiritual bonding in prayer and Spirit above all else. As God in essence is one, so Christ besought his Father to bring in all believers into the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, that all may be secure in Him. Yet Christ did not pray, "That they may be one in me or You", but "in Us". Thus, he implies that this perfect unity peculiar to Father and Son in the Spirit, is the model. He wishes to raise you to his level, because outside the Trinitarian fellowship there is nothing but hell.
The aim of being established in God’s unity is not to please ourselves spiritually, but for us to witness before others, who live afar from God. Hopefully, they will realize that they are dead in sin and wicked in their pride, and slaves of their passions, and so repent and turn to the Savior. You who are clinging to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, will receive strength to be humble, loving, in spiritual freedom to love everyone who believes, and rejoice in their presence, and with them to become a costly witness to Christ’s love. We are all proof of the deity of the Man Jesus. If only all Christians were sincere, no non-Christians would remain in the world. Their love and peace would draw all and would transform them. Let us give heed to Jesus’ demand and unite! Do you intend to be a cause for unbelief in a divided Church, as if Christ’s body were in pieces?