142. Be One
John 17:21, 22, 23 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be onein us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me….that they may be one, even as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.
This prayer and promise of Jesus is, and will remain, a mystery. Unity is a mystery; it is connected to the other “oneness” mysteries: 1) the mystery of the Trinity, that three distinct persons are One God; 2) the mystery of the nature of Christ, that two distinct natures are united in One Person; 3) the mystery of Christ and the Church, that this Union is compared to the other mystery of One Flesh from two distinct human beings in marriage; 4) this mystery in John 17 speaking of believers, that they shall all be One, united in Christ, and perfect in one in a perfect union. A mystery is not something hard to understand; it is a truth that is impossible to understand; it is beyond the ability of humans to comprehend. A Biblical mystery is a truth that must be believed, whether we “see” it or not.
By certain definitions of oneness and unity, the unity of the brothers in Christ will never be seen in this world. If by being “one” we mean some kind of agreement, this will be impossible to achieve between any two human beings on earth. A husband and wife, who become one flesh, will never agree even when they have much in common. One believer and another will never agree on everything no matter how much they may agree on fundamental truths.
Unity and oneness of believers in Christ goes way beyond agreement on Christian doctrine or practice. It goes beyond love and tolerance and compromise; it goes beyond harmony and understanding; it goes beyond peacemaking. It is a deeper bond, deeper and stronger even than family ties. For all their differences, married couples are united by Christ, who makes them one flesh. For all their differences, two different believers are united by Christ, who makes them one in Him. We will never see this unity, although once in a while we get a glimpse of our oneness in Christ in a spiritual sense. Take hold of Jesus’ promise and enjoy the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Jesus prays for it; Jesus gives it.