John 17:20-26 | United We Stand

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Sunday Morning | December 3, 2023 | John C. Majors | Louisville, KY

The sermon on John 17:20-26, titled "United We Stand," was delivered by John C. Majors on December 3, 2023. In this sermon, the focus is on the last part of Jesus' longest recorded prayer, where he prays for those who will believe. The sermon is divided into three parts, each corresponding to a prayer made by Jesus.

The first prayer is for unity, emphasizing the basis and byproduct of unity. The basis of unity, according to verses 20-21, is the eternal relationship within the Trinity—God the Father in Jesus and Jesus in the Father. The foundation of unity is rooted in this eternal relationship, and the byproduct is the belief in Jesus by the world.

The second basis for unity, as highlighted in verses 22-24, is the glory of Christ. The glory of Christ is explained as the manifestation of God's character or person in a revelatory context. Humans fall short of God's glory, and the byproduct of Christ's glory is that the world may know that He loves them.

The third basis, found in verses 25-26, is knowing the name of Jesus. Knowing His name refers to understanding His reputation and standard of truth. Truth is presented as a powerful basis for unity, and the byproduct is love. The sermon emphasizes the importance of unity, not uniformity, and warns against making personal preferences the basis of unity.

The conclusion of the sermon emphasizes the importance of imitating the love of Jesus. The ultimate response to knowing Him and being known by Him is to pour out that love on others. The sermon ends with a personal anecdote about reconciliation and the significance of maintaining unity in the Christian community.

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