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John 17:9-11

Joh 17:9 “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.

Joh 17:10 Everything I have is yours, and everything you have is mine, and I am made glorious by them.

Joh 17:11 I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the name that you have given me, so that they may be one like we are one.

community and mutual identity

What kind of unity does Jesus’ prayer entail? The Father and Son had a mutual possession. Everything one owned was owned by the other. Neither held anything back as exclusively his. Each had a separate identity, but both had the same protection: the name of God.

Christians need to lean into this. We need to stop thinking of “my focus” or “my ministry” and “my reputation.” Mutual possession means that our individual gifts and purpose belong to God and every other believer as well. We are protected by one name. As much as possible, we need to stop using names to separate ourselves from and belittle other parts of the body of Christ.

Lord, thank you for our community and mutual identity.