In this verse, Jesus is praying for His disciples before He leaves them. But just a few verses late, Jesus is now praying for all Believers when He says, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me…” (John 17:23) These two verses show the pattern in the eternal relationship of Father & Son, which is then reflected in the unity of Son & Believer. Later in John, the risen Jesus again reiterates to His followers, “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21) So why did Jesus place so much importance on evangelism & missions? The ancient Christian Theologian, Augustine, once wrote, “Life consists in fellowship with God, Who created us for Himself, so that our soul is restless unless it finds its rest in Him.” But then its, how can people call on the name of the Lord unless they’ve heard about Him…and how can they hear unless someone shares the Gospel with them…and how can they share the Good News of Jesus unless they’ve been sent? (Romans 10:14-15) It’s all rolled up in the Great Commission of “Go!”… The Father sent Jesus, in turn Jesus is now sending you.
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