John 17:20-26

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (21) 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. (22) And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (23) 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 me. (24) Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (25) O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. (26) And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

In this part of the Lord's prayer, his whole Church is included, yea, expressly prayed for. And I have often found cause to bless the Lord Jesus, for the very sweet and gracious manner of expression which he was pleased to use, in the introduction of it, when he said, by way of distinction, from what he had before said for the Apostles: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me, through their word. It is in my view, as if the Lord Jesus had said: The blessings I am procuring for those my redeemed, which are now around me, and within the hearing of what I say, I mean not to limit to them, but that the whole may be extended to all my Church; in the thousands, and ten thousands of my children, which are yet unborn. And while I desire some more special effects of my great salvation may be communicated to those my Apostles, to qualify them for the ministry of the word; my will is, that the whole body of the Church may partake together, in all the blessed consequences of my mission. That oneness and union, that perfection and glory in me, and that everlasting presence with me, to which the whole Church shall finally be brought; may be the privilege and blessedness of all. I humbly conceive, that our Lord's words, in the opening of this concluding clause of his prayer, may, without violence to the several expressions contained in it, be supposed as conveying those things. And I beg the Reader to remark with me, the manner in which the Lord Jesus enforceth the several blessings he enumerates, Father! I will. Here is no petition, nor request; but what Jesus saith, is expressed in the nature of a right, or demand. And the reason is obvious. In the several transactions of the Holy Three in One, the glorious Almighty Covenanters have mutually engaged to each other. They are all alike equal in Godhead. And they are alike equal in Covenant Offices. They have therefore guaranteed to each other. So that in the Intercession of Christ; though by virtue of his human nature, this office leads to the exercise of prayer: yet not by a way of petition, but of right. Jesus demands the fulfilment of Covenant stipulations; and as such saith, for all he pleads: Father! I will!

I must not indulge here again, no more than upon the former occasion, to enlarge on the several subjects, which are contained in those concluding verses of our Lord's prayer: But I crave the favor of the Reader, that I may be permitted to glance at one or two of the more prominent points, Jesus hath so sweetly dwelt upon.

And first: that union and oneness which Jesus here insists upon; and which, the Lord speaks of so frequently, in this Chapter. We shall do well to notice it at least, though to enter into the full apprehension of it is impossible. That Jesus himself took much delight in it is very certain, for he makes mention of it continually in his prayer. And if it was dear to Christ, how very dear ought it to be to his people? Indeed it forms the basis of all communicable grace and glory. For without union, there can be no communion. Unless married to Christ, we have no claim to maintenance or dower? Unless grafted into this holy Vine, how shall we derive sap or fruitfulness from the Vine? It is by virtue of this oneness with Christ, in the eternal purpose of Jehovah, being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, that the Church derives all her blessedness from Christ. This union is the foundation of all the after blessings, which arise out of it. All the blessings and mercies we derive from Christ, in this time-state of the Church, are the result of the Church's being considered as one with Christ, from all eternity. So that our redemption by Christ, is among the blessed effects of this union: and our union with Christ is the cause. Christ came to redeem his Church, from the ruins of the Adam-fall. But this was, because Jesus hath betrothed himself to this Church, before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4; Hosea 2:18

But while we esteem so very highly this union, on account of the blessings flowing from it: (and never can it be too highly prized, or too often meditated upon), I would desire the Reader to observe, that the union itself is as far superior, as any cause is to the effect. An union with Christ, makes a child of God one with Christ. It forms a personal union: for the whole Person of Christ, God-Man is one with his Church, in every individual member of it: body, soul, and spirit. He that is joined to the Lord is One Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:17. Hence Christ is precious: not only for his gifts, or for his graces, or for his benefits; but for himself. He is not only the source of happiness, but is himself our happiness. Not only gives his people life, but is himself their life, and their portion forever. So sweet and precious therefore, is this conscious union, with Christ.

Secondly, Jesus saith, that the glory which thou gavest me I have given them. Here also we discover a blessedness, which merits our highest regard, and our unceasing thankfulness. There is a glory of the Lord Jesus Christ in his divine nature as God, one with the Father over all blessed forever. But then this is not communicable, neither was it ever given to him, And there is a glory, even a Personal glory, as God-Man, which is his, and incapable also of communication. And there is a glory of dignity and merit, as God - Man, which he hath acquired by virtue of his sufferings, and death. Philippians 2:6. Neither is this capable of being communicated. But his glory as Head of his body the Church, as the head of influence, and the head of communication; this glory, given to him by Jehovah, is purposely given, to be communicated to all the members of his mystical body; and Jesus here saith, he hath given it to his people. And it is most blessed to observe, how the Lord is forever doing it, here in grace, and above in glory! And the oneness of the Church of Christ with Christ, is such, that while the Church is made everlastingly blessed and happy in her Head and Husband, Jesus is made glorious in his Church, and becomes as the Prophet described her, a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of her God. Isaiah 62:3

Thirdly, It is not the smallest part of Christ's regard, which he hath shewn to his Church in this prayer, in the striking discrimination which he hath made, between his Church and the world; and the knowledge his people have of him, compared to the world. O righteous Father, (said Jesus) the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee: and these have known that thou hast sent me. There is somewhat very particular and striking, in Christ calling the Father, in this place, and upon this account, O righteous Father! Was it not (for I only ask the question, without deciding upon it), to shew the righteousness and strict equity of God, in leaving the world shut up in the unbelief of their own minds by the fall, and revealing himself in Christ, to all the Church; chosen in Christ, and called? Romans 11:7. Reader! do not fail to mark this as you pass over the several parts, of this most precious Chapter. And while you mark it, look to God the Spirit, to cause the sweet savor of it, to rest with suitable affection, to call forth praise and love in the mind.

I will only detain the Reader just to observe, with what tenderness and love the Lord closeth the whole of his prayer, with an intimation of continuing to declare unto his people the Name of his Father; that the love of God to Christ, as God-Man Mediator: and the love of God to the Church in Christ, might be unceasingly known and enjoyed, by his whole household. It is impossible that anything could be said more expressive, in token of the Lord's love. He was now in the moment of separation from them. When he had finished his prayer, he was going into the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew what would then follow. This was, the last, the farewell interview, of Christ and his eleven Apostles alone. And what were his last words in this sweet season. That the Father's love wherewith he had loved him, might be in them; and (said Jesus) in them. Here was an assurance then, of the everlasting love of Jesus, and the sameness of love in Jesus to his Church, to the end of the world. That love could not increase, neither could it diminish. Jesus leaves his heart with them therefore, and not only them, but; all the Church, of which they were then the: representatives. That his love shall be with them; and constant, fresh manifestations, and discoveries of it, shall be forever. So the Lord Jesus declared. And so his people in the present hour of the Church, can bear witness; and set to their seal in having received this testimony, that God is true. John 3:33. Amen.