阅读经文 

我女儿和我有幸能在她们母亲的床边听到她临终时所说的话。一个人的遗言是有非常特别的意义的。

约翰福音十七章中的祷告，是耶稣与祂的门徒最后一次的祷告——时间就发生在祂在客西马尼园里扎挣、被卖、受审和被钉十架之前。这些言语显明祂对所有相信祂之人的心意。

请留意耶稣没有为哪些事祷告。祂没有为战胜压迫他们的罗马人祷告；祂没有为跟从者的健康和财富恳求；祂没有为生命、自由和追求幸福的权利祈求；祂甚至没有提到祂为敬拜的方式或神学上的问题而担忧。

耶稣乃是为合一祷告！

祂祈求所有相信祂的人能与神合而为一，他们因此便能彼此“完全地合一”—— 在未来的年日始终不间断！

在同一个晚上稍早的时候，耶稣曾这样说：“我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱…… 你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。”（约 13:34-35）

爱这个字意味着行动。作为一个爱神的人，我们就当每天祈求恩典去爱邻舍如同爱自己，这是耶稣的吩咐。

My daughters and I were privileged to be at their mother’s bedside when she spoke her last words. There is something very special about people’s final words.

Jesus’prayer in John 17 is his final prayer with his disciples—just prior to his struggles in the garden and his betrayal, trial, and crucifixion. These words reveal his heart for all who believe in him!

Note what Jesus did not pray for. He did not pray for victory over Roman oppressors. He did not plead for the health and wealth of his followers. He did not ask for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He did not even mention concern over worship practices or theological questions.

Jesus prayed for unity!

His prayer was that all who believe in him would be united with God and therefore be united with one another in “complete unity”—in all the days and years that followed!

Earlier that same evening Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. . . . By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

Love is an action word. As lovers of God, pray daily for grace to love your neighbors as yourself. That is what Jesus wants.