Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church

In today’s message, I reflected on how Jesus prayed before doing anything else—before the cross, the resurrection, or the ascension. In His “high priestly prayer” from John’s Gospel, He intercedes for us, asking that we be one—not just united in name, but perfectly one through His death and resurrection. He prays that we be united with Him and the Father, a oneness made possible through His Word, His glory, and the gift of the Lord’s Supper. Finally, He prays that the world would come to know God’s love through us. This love isn’t just kindness—it’s sacrificial, the kind that lays down its life for others. Jesus did that for us, and now sends us to do the same, so others might come to know Him and be brought into this perfect unity. That’s His prayer for us—and our own: “Come, Lord Jesus. Make us one. Perfectly one. Tetelestai one.”