John 17:22-26 – The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

In Jesus’ prayer, He says that He has given us glory from God and because of this, the church has glory, that glory isn’t the a part of a church building, but comes from within people. When we as people of God act in unity, and love each other deeply, it shines like light and the world witnesses an amazing thing.

Our unity and love for each other reveals to them that God Himself really is with us. It’s typical for mankind to have disunity and hatred for each other. We are displaying something greater than ourselves when we live in unity and love for each other and when the world sees this, they “know” that Jesus is the one from God and that God must really love us.

This passage brings up another good reason to study the Bible. The disciples recorded what they learned about God in it and if knowing God better helps us to have love, then we should be studying the Bible so that this happens to us. It also says that knowing God’s name makes it possible for Jesus to be in us. What we think about God has an effect on how we live. If we don’t think that God created the world, then we don’t treat Him with the respect He deserves as The One who did. In fact, Jesus helped to create the world and again, Jesus mentions here that the Father loved Him before the world was created. Knowing God and who He is, helps us understand that He is the kind of God that would send a savior. Knowing God helps us to see the great difference between what we are and who He is and that we actually need saving because sin is not something He can tolerate. When we get to know God we begin to understand that He is the kind of God that would give gifts without requiring anything in return.