Publisher's Synopsis
Jesus prayed that his followers would be one. This book answers the questions, has this prayer been answered or is it yet to be answered? Oneness was so important to Jesus that it was one of the major themes of his prayer with and for his disciples shortly before he went to the Garden of Gethsemane where he was betrayed. When something is one's last prayer, be sure that it is of utmost importance and highest priority. This book's intent is to clearly present his prayer, explaining the astonishing background behind it, emphasizing the significance of oneness, elaborating on the weight he placed on it, stating the amazing impact he predicted oneness would bring, highlighting its strategic importance in the purpose of God. My hope and prayer is that Jesus' followers understand the oneness imparted by the Spirit, realizing that keeping it is their charge, making every effort to pursue it in one-on-one, group-to-group, and all other levels of relationships. In endeavoring to understand Jesus' use of this term, oneness, applying it to his followers-the church, this book starts with a basic question: In the first place, what good is the church? Why is it so important that Jesus prayed that it would be one, and what is the relevance of the church to us? Next it discusses Jesus, his love, his revelation of God's love, and his prayer for his followers in the first century, and as he clearly stated, his followers afterward, who became the church through all ages-that they would be one. Then it briefly examines church history to see successful fulfillment of as well as notable failure to fulfill Jesus' prayer. Finally, it explores biblical examples and proposes ways by which Jesus' followers can and will echo Jesus' prayer.
