Reading: “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.”—John 17:23
What heart can fully conceive the transcendent honour and unspeakable happiness that the believer has in Jesus? Mark how graciously the Redeemer has pointed it out in those sweet words.
Observe the foundation of our union with Christ—it is that union between the Father and the Son. This is at the bottom of all our mercies, and becomes the source and spring of every other. “Thou in me,” Jesus says, not only as One in the nature and essence of the Godhead, in a sameness of nature, of design, of will, of perfections, and in all the attributes which constitute the distinguishing properties of Jehovah; but peculiarly as Mediator, the head of the church and people, in communicating all the fullness of the Godhead.
Thus, being one with Christ, and dwelling in Christ, in such a way and manner as the Godhead never did before, and never can dwell in any other. And as Jesus is thus One with the Father in the essence of the Godhead, and the Father in Him and being in Him, in all the work of redempt1on, as Mediator, so is Jesus also in the nature of the Manhood, with all His mystical members.
Notice also, He said, “I in them, as thou art in me.” Jesus is the Head of His body, the church, and He is their fullness. In this fullness we have the blessed effects which His redeemed derive from Him, “that they may be made perfect in one.” From Him they derive perfection. As one with Him, they are counted, and beheld perfect before God; and by Him they will be found so through all eternity.
Christian, rest assured that you will have an everlasting communion, and nothing can separate you from Jesus, neither in time nor to all eternity. Go down to the grave with this perfect confidence, “That if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal body, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11).
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