Coming Together

“There are two basic creditable witnesses in the earth to the resurrection of Christ, one is unity, two is the miraculous.” – Bill Johnson

What is your definition of unity? Is it simply getting along and agreeing with others? In today’s culture it seems sometimes that unity is the miraculous.

The last Passover meal Jesus shared with the disciples started with a foot washing. Jesus was the one with the towel around his waist, serving and setting an example. He spoke of betrayal, denial, and his death. He comforted the disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust in me also.” The promised Counselor, the Holy Spirt, would be sent to guide and empower He said. Jesus told them to remain in him and to love one another, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

So, what is unity?

Humility

A willingness to serve

Knowing and hearing things that are troubling and doing the right thing anyway

Forgiveness

Trusting in God and Jesus

The Holy Spirit

Remaining in the Vine

Love

Sacrifice

All of these things are made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Before going to the garden, Jesus prayed for the disciples and us.

“Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” – John 17:11 NIV”

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” – John 17:20-23 NIV

In the 2019 AFC divisional playoff, the Tennessee Titans defeated the Baltimore Ravens, in a game that the Titans were not supposed to win. In the postgame interview, the Titans star running back Derrick Henry was asked, “what do we need to know about the Titans that we don’t?” His answer is an example of how 53 players, all unique and different, bonded around a single purpose, to finish well.

Coming together in unity.