The Heart of Jesus for His Church: A Prayer for Unity and Glory

John 17:20-26

In this passage from John 17:20–26, Pastor Matt Maloney draws us into Jesus’ final prayer for His church—a prayer marked by deep love and eternal purpose. Jesus asks the Father for two central realities: that His people would be united as one, and that they would ultimately be with Him to see His glory. This sermon challenges us to see unity not as optional, but as essential to our witness, and to long for Christ Himself as the true goal of our faith.

In John 17:20–26, we are given the profound privilege of overhearing Jesus’ prayer just before His crucifixion. This is not a passing thought or secondary concern—this is the heart of Christ for His people. Pastor Matt highlights two central themes that shape both the identity and destiny of the church: our unity in Christ and our future with Him in glory.

1. A Prayer for Unity (v. 21–23)

Jesus prays that His followers “may all be one,” and this unity is not superficial harmony or mere agreement. It is rooted in the very nature of God Himself—“just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you.” Christian unity flows from the perfect unity of the Trinity: shared truth, purpose, will, and love.

This matters deeply because unity is tied directly to our witness. Jesus says that the world will believe the Father sent Him when they see the unity of His people. In other words, the Gospel is not only proclaimed—it is displayed in the life of a loving, unified church. A healthy Christian community becomes a living picture of redemption, showing how Christ restores what sin has broken.

Yet unity is not easy. As Pastor Matt notes, calling sinners to unity will inevitably bring conflict. Our fallen nature resists it. When unity breaks down, the consequences are real—division, hurt, and often people walking away from the faith altogether.

But Scripture shows us that unity is more important than the absence of conflict. In Galatians 2:11–14, Paul confronts Peter not to shame him, but to restore him because his actions were “not in step with the Gospel.” True unity sometimes requires hard conversations, but always with the aim of reconciliation and grace.

The call, then, is personal:

• Are we actively seeking to build unity in Christ’s church?

• Are we quick to extend grace, even when wronged?

As A. W. Tozer insightfully put it, believers are drawn closer together not by focusing on unity itself, but by fixing their eyes on Christ. The more we are aligned with Him, the more we are aligned with one another.

2. A Prayer for Presence (v. 24–26)

Jesus’ prayer doesn’t stop at unity—it points beyond it. “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory.”

Unity is not an end in itself. It exists because we want Christ. The ultimate hope of the Christian life is not simply a better community or even restored relationships—it is being with Jesus and beholding His glory.

This is a staggering promise. One day, believers will see Christ as He truly is, in all His fullness and majesty. This future reality reshapes our present priorities. Our longing for unity, our pursuit of holiness, and our commitment to the church are all grounded in this greater hope: eternal communion with Christ.

Conclusion

Jesus’ prayer reveals both our calling and our destiny. We are called to be a people marked by unity—costly, grace-filled, Christ-centered unity that bears witness to the world. And we are destined for something far greater: to be with Jesus and to see His glory.

So the question remains:

Are we living now in light of what Jesus has prayed for us?

John 17:6-19 | The Sacred Sound (We Are To Be…)

We rejoice in the deeply personal words of Jesus speaking to His father in John 17:6-19, sharing his deep love and care for us.

Today we break down five key points that Jesus prayed for us.

That we would be Kept - though Jesus is no longer in the world, where he kept and guarded us, that we would continue to be protected by God.
That we would be One - as Jesus and God are one, being unified in Him.
That we would be Joyful - not just to endure this world, but to be genuinely fulfilled.
That we would be Set Apart - sanctified in the truth of God’s word, growing in holiness.
That we would be Sent - just as Jesus was sent into the world, we are sent into the world for a reason, that we would be set apart for God’s purposes.

John 17: 1-5 | The Sacred Sound (Glory)

In John 17: 1-5, Jesus prays directly to God. He uses the word ‘glory’ or a variation of it 5 times, highlighting its importance. The passage also displays how Jesus prays to God as his ‘Father’, and outlines the gift of eternal life that awaits followers of Christ.

John 16:25-33 | Take Heart

In John 16:25-33, Jesus reminds his disciples of three things:

1. They are deeply loved.

2. They are weaker than they think.

3. Jesus is stronger than the World, and He has overcome it.

In John 16:25-33, Jesus reminds his disciples of three things:

1. They are deeply loved.

2. They are weaker than they think.

3. Jesus is stronger than the World, and He has overcome it.

John 16:16-24 | Your sorrow will turn to joy

In John 16:16–24, Jesus prepares His disciples for the sorrow they are about to face while pointing them to the lasting joy that will follow. Though suffering is a reality in a fallen world, Christ promises that our sorrow will ultimately turn to joy through His death and resurrection. In this passage we see Jesus’ warning about coming trials, His promise of unshakable joy, and His invitation to draw near to the Father in prayer so that our joy may be made complete.

In this message from John 16:16–24, Pastor Mike Westhuyzen helps us see how Jesus prepares His disciples—and us—for the reality of suffering while anchoring us in an unshakable promise of joy.

Jesus’ words come just before His arrest and crucifixion. The disciples are confused and unaware of the trials that are about to unfold. In verses 16–20 we see the warning: sorrow is coming. In a world broken by sin, suffering is not unusual but expected. Even Peter, full of confidence, would soon fail and experience deep shame. As followers of Christ we should not be surprised when hardship comes; often our most difficult days still lie ahead.

But sorrow is not the end of the story. In verses 20–22 Jesus gives the promise: sorrow will give way to joy. Using the illustration of childbirth, He shows how intense pain can lead to overwhelming joy when new life arrives. In the same way, the anguish of the cross—the darkest moment in history—became the very source of salvation and life. Christians still grieve in this world, but as Paul reminds us, we do not grieve like those without hope. Through the risen Christ we are given a joy that is “inexpressible and filled with glory,” a joy that no one can ultimately take away.

Finally, in verses 23–24 we hear the invitation: prayer is the doorway into experiencing that joy. Jesus invites His people to ask the Father in His name. Too often we stand on the edge of God’s grace like a thirsty traveller who finds an oasis but never stoops to drink. Prayer is the act of stepping in—cupping our hands and receiving what God freely gives.

Sorrow in this life is inevitable, but for those who belong to Christ it is never final. Jesus assures us that our sorrow will turn to joy, and He invites us to draw near to the Father in prayer so that our joy may be full.