Jesus’ final request is a lengthy, three-fold prayer for every person who would believe the message of the first disciples…

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A. To be completely one…

The unity in His body, once again…was uppermost in Jesus’ mind…and one of the keys to the church’s powerful witness to the world

B. To see His glory…

Another significant factor in the transformation of His family into His image. 

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C. To know the Father’s love…

“…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is nothing greater than to be secure in the Father’s love that will steady and safely steer God’s people through the dangers of living in a fallen world. 

Unity…Jesus’ glory…God’s love…there is nothing greater that Jesus has made possible…for us, His forever family, to experience and to enjoy now, and to take with us into our eternal home. 

So, Jesus’ heart’s desire reaches a climax in His prayer for His church. He reaches to the end of time, embraces His entire universal family, and places them in the Father’s hands…to bring His eternal plan to its perfect conclusion. 

Will Jesus’ prayer be answered? Its answer is already guaranteed because…

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”