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Articles
Jesus’ Prayer for Unity
In Luke 11:1-4 we have the account of one of Jesus’ disciples requesting that He “teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” In response He set forth what is often referred to as the Lord’s prayer. Actually it is better described as the disciples’ prayer. What could more appropriately be referred to as the Lord’s prayer is the rather lengthy prayer of Christ as He earnestly prayed to His heavenly Father just prior to His betrayal and crucifixion as recorded in John 17. Study this chapter carefully and note the vast contrast between His earnest petition to His Father that all of His followers “may be one as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they all may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (:21) with the prayers of many denominational preachers who “thank you God for the many different denominations which enable each of us to worship according to our own dictates” (Matt. 15:9; Mark 7:7).
One of the strongest arguments the atheist has in opposition to Christianity as the world views it is, “How can an all-wise God be the author of the many conflicting doctrines which are presented by the denominational world in the name of Christianity?” The truth of the matter is that God is not the author of such confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). His word is truth (John 17:17), and truth does not contradict itself. The contradictions are doctrines of men which make worship vain (Matt. 15:9). With this in mind, note again one reason Jesus gave for “all who believe in Me through their (the apostles’) word...may be one, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (:21). Again in :23 He repeated this and added, “and have loved them as You have loved Me.” Jesus earnestly prayed that all who believe in Him may be one. Shouldn’t all who claim to be His followers strive to fulfill that prayer by being perfectly united in all our teachings?
