THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN - Chapter 17 - Verse 23
Verse 23. May be made perfect in one. That their union may be
complete. That there may be no jars, discords, or contentions. A
machine is perfect or complete when it has all its parts and is in
good order—when there is no portion of it wanting. So the union of
Christians, for which the Saviour prayed, would be complete or perfect
if there were no controversies, no envyings, no contentions, and no
heart-burnings and jealousies. It is worthy of remark here how entirely
the union of his people occupied the mind of Jesus as he drew
near to death. He saw the danger of strifes and contentions in the church.
He knew the imperfections of even the best of men. He saw how prone they
would be to passion and ambition; how ready to mistake love of sect or
party for zeal for pure religion; how selfish and worldly men in the
church might divide his followers, and produce unholy feeling and
contention; and he saw, also, how much this would do to dishonour
religion. Hence he took occasion, when he was about to die, to
impress the importance of union on his disciples. By solemn admonition,
and by most tender and affecting appeals to God in supplication, he showed
his sense of the value of this union. He used the most sublime and
impressive illustration; he adverted to the eternal union between the
Father and himself; he reminded them of his love, and of the effect that
their union would have on the world, to fix it more deeply in their
hearts. The effect has shown the infinite wisdom of the Saviour.
The contentions and strifes of Christians have shown his knowledge in
foreseeing it. The effect of all this on religion has shown that he
understood the value of union. Christians have contended long enough.
It is time that they should hear the parting admonitions of their
Redeemer, and go unitedly against their common foe. The world still lies
in wickedness; and the friends of Jesus, bound by the cords of eternal
love, should advance together against the common enemy, and spread
the triumphs of the gospel around the globe. All that is needful now,
under the blessing of God, to convince the world that God sent the
Lord Jesus, is that very union among all Christians for which he
prayed; and when that union of feeling, and purpose, and action shall
take place, the task of sending the gospel to all nations will be soon
accomplished, and the morning of the millennial glory will dawn upon the
world.
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