The Agape Recipe - 11/5/2023

We are wrapping up Jesus's prayer today. He first prayed for Himself (17:1-5), then His disciples (17:6-19), and finally for future believers (17:20-26). Jesus' prayer is a faith-filled prayer of the future. As He prays for Himself, He speaks as if He has already been resurrected. As He prays for the disciples, He speaks as if they had already become the men they would become after Pentecost. As He prays for future believers, He speaks as if the Church was already operating in unity, His glory, and love.

The word agape is a Greek word for love. It is often used in mutual love for one another. It is the word used to describe Christian unity. This word, which describes love, is powerful. It is the word Jesus uses in this portion of His prayer to describe the unified love of the Father and the Son. Jesus uses agape to describe the Father's love for us. This Agape recipe has two ingredients. The first is unity, and the second is Jesus' glory. For us to love the world and see it transformed, we will need this special recipe, which has been made possible through Jesus' finished work on the cross.