More than ever our world is increasingly divided by ideologies, cultures, and perspectives that are prevalent across—and even within—denominations. And in a world that is increasingly interconnected, unity is needed to address the globally shared challenges that sometimes seem insurmountable.

This demise of unity was never God’s plan. Jesus’ last recorded prayer in John 17:22, 23 describes an ideal picture of unity: “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (NKJV). 

The setting was the Garden of Gethsemane prior to Jesus’ betrayal, trial, and crucifixion. The prayer is to the Father with whom Jesus had perfect unity. During His earthly ministry He spoke of the unity between He and His Father (see John 10:30). This perfect unity existed before the creation of earth as expressed in John 17:5: “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (KJV).

The second focus of Jesus’ prayer was unity among His disciples: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us” (John 17:21, KJV).1 The disciples did not fully grasp everything about Jesus’ mission. It was not until Pentecost that they realized the importance of unity in spreading the gospel.   

The final focus of Jesus’ prayer was unity among believers. His plea in John 17:22 was for you and me. Unity among believers is the greatest witness to unbelievers. The world will not be won (WON) until Christians become one (ONE). 

Jesus is the great unifier, making the basis of our unity our common faith in Him. Jesus not only has demonstrated perfect unity but has prayed for us; and it is a prayer that will be honored by the Father. Through God’s power we can strive toward creating a profound culture of unity within our individual spheres that transcends division. 

Unity and love are very important components of any enduring and lasting relationship. When we commit ourselves to love and not hate, we follow the command of Jesus to His disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:34, 35).

Martin Luther King, Jr., reiterated this principle in this famous quote: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” 

In Selected Messages Ellen White writes, “Christ is the uniting link in the golden chain which binds believers together in God. There must be no separating in this great testing time. . . . The children of God constitute one united whole in Christ. . . .  All who believe are one in Him.”2

Revelation 22:2 depicts enduring unity for the redeemed who will eat from the tree of life in the new earth:  “The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (NKJV). The reference to “the healing of the nations” means God will ultimately remove all ethnic barriers and restore all people, tribes, and nations into one harmonious family that will live in perfect unity forever.

Unity among believers is essential within the realm of Christianity and is amplified accordingly throughout the Bible. Now is the time to respond to the clarion call to authentically embrace and model unity and reconciliation through the common faith we have been afforded in Jesus Christ.

— Washington Johnson II is the director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries for the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

1 Bible texts credited to NKJV are from the NEW King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

2 Ellen G. White, Selected Messages (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1958, 1980), book 3, p. 21.