”And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
In the final hours before Jesus’ crucifixion, He prays a profound prayer for His disciples, and ultimately for us. In John 17, we witness a glimpse of the heart of Christ, as He seeks unity with His followers, a deep connection to the Father, and the assurance of His love abiding in us.
In this specific verse, Jesus reveals an intimate truth: He has declared God’s name to us and will continue to do so. Why? So that the love God has for His Son, Jesus, may dwell within us. Think about that for a moment. The very love that binds Jesus to the Father is the same love that God wants to pour into our hearts. What an overwhelming gift!
The love that Jesus speaks of here is not like the fleeting, conditional love we often experience in our human relationships. No, this love is eternal, unwavering, and perfect. It is the same love that the Father has for Jesus—the kind of love that binds us together with Him, that transforms us from the inside out, and that gives us a deep sense of belonging. When Jesus says, “that the love wherewith Thou hast loved me may be in them,” He’s not just speaking of affection. He’s speaking of the kind of love that holds nothing back, that sacrifices, that gives all for the good of the other. This is the love that moves us to action, the love that transforms our hearts, and the love that unites us with Christ!
Think about that—Jesus Himself, in all His holiness and grace, lives within us through the Holy Spirit! It’s through this intimate relationship with Christ that we experience His love firsthand and reflect that love to those around us!
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