Jesus was serious about this.
It was a serious night. These were parting words and parting thoughts. There was “much to be said” and “very little time to say to say them in.”
So, Jesus taught and Jesus prayed. He prayed for future believers. He prayed for those who would one day follow him.
What is so very cool is that he had concern for “others” – constantly – even on into the future.
So when Jesus is at prayer – he does not pray for our tolerance of one another.
He does not pray that we might “get along” with one another.
He doesn’t pray that we are just “nice” to each other…or “kind”…or that we even “care about one another.”
Nor does he pray that our differences be eliminated.
Instead, he prays for our “oneness.”

He really pushes the envelope here.
So, I am “assuming” that the “oneness” of which he speaks – is in spite of all of our differences.
Oneness is not about eliminating our differences. It is about love. Love is the only thing that can ever overcome division.
Jesus was really big on “love and loving.”
Over and over again, Jesus tells us that we are to love God. He reminds us of our need to love our neighbors. He reinforces the idea that we have to love ourselves, as well. And then he tells us that we must love our enemies, too. He tells parables about loving…he teaches, preaches and then, through his very own actions – he shows us!
We know that – the love of which he speaks is “agape love,” the purest form of love. Unconditional love. It is loving others, like God himself loves them.
It is a love that knows no boundaries.
And then, Jesus sets the example for us by loving “all unconditionally” – including his executioners.
Jesus prays that we would be one as he and the Father are one – so that our oneness – would be a revelation of God’s presence to the world.
Oneness in the midst of difference becomes “a sacramental presence” of God’s life in the world.
That’s why it is such a bold statement to proclaim that we believe in one church. One in the midst of many. It too, is a sign of God’s presence.
It has been stated, “if” Jesus is praying for our oneness, “then” he is also recognizing and rejecting all of the boundaries and all of the differences that divide us.
And Lord knows there are many.
We all know and realize that there are huge divisions within our churches, within our nation and even within our families. The politicians are continually pointing out the differences that exist.
It almost seems like we live in a world full of divisions: male or female, black or white, rich or poor, Hispanic or Anglo, Conservative or Progressive, Republican or Democrat, Christian or Muslim, Catholic or Protestant, Jew or Gentile, conservative or liberal, educated or uneducated, young or old, sinner or saint, orthodox or heretic, millennial or Boomer…and on and on they go.
Some divisions run very deep. Some divisions have run – for a very long time.
For far too long we have dealt with each other through our boundaries, differences and divisions. Co-existence has not been working, no matter what the bumper stickers may say!
One only needs to “look at our world,” read the newspaper or watch the news.
When we deal with each other through our divisions we label, do violence and all but hunker down – and dig in deep to defend our own righteous positions.
There has got to be a better way. A way out…a way ahead through the darkness of this world…
And I believe that Jesus said it. We have to love more. We have to love as God loves. We have to love unconditionally. We have to love all…without exception.
We have to love God. We have to love ourselves. We have to love our neighbors. And we have to love our enemies.
The answer is plain and simple, “love.”
At one time, people looked at Christians and said, “See how they love!” Somewhere along the way, we stopped loving! We allowed walls to go up that divide and separate us. We decided who we will love. We establish and promote division. We are the ones that draw lines between people.
And Jesus says, “stop, just stop.” Love one another. It is the only way! Be one!