Unity and Uniqueness: The Depth of 'One' in John

Oct 22, 2020

Devotional

Day 1: The Uniqueness of God – “The Lord is One”

The confession that “the Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4) stands at the heart of biblical faith, affirming that there is only one true God, unique and unrivaled. This oneness is not merely a numerical statement but a declaration of God’s singularity and exclusivity, setting Him apart from all other so-called gods. For the people of Israel, and for all who follow Christ, this truth calls for wholehearted devotion, love, and obedience to God alone, shaping every aspect of life and worship. The Shema, recited daily by faithful Jews, is a reminder that allegiance to the one God is the foundation of faith and the source of unity among His people. [06:14]

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (ESV)
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Reflection: In what ways does the uniqueness of God shape your daily devotion and choices, setting Him above all other priorities in your life?

Day 2: God’s People United – One Flock, One Shepherd

God’s promise through the prophets was to gather His scattered people and unite them under one shepherd, a hope fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The vision of Ezekiel, where divided tribes are joined into one nation with one king, finds its echo in Jesus’ words: “there will be one flock, one shepherd.” This unity is not just a restoration of what was lost but a new creation, where all who believe—Jew and Gentile—are brought together as one people, united by their allegiance to Christ, the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. The unity of God’s people is both a gift and a calling, overcoming division and reflecting the heart of God’s redemptive plan. [24:30]

John 10:16 (ESV)
“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Reflection: Who in your life might God be calling you to embrace as part of His one flock, even if they are different from you?

Day 3: The Unity of the Father and the Son

Jesus’ declaration, “I and the Father are one,” is a profound revelation of the intimate communion within the Godhead. This unity is not simply agreement in purpose but a deep, relational oneness—“the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” Such language is unprecedented in Jewish thought and reveals that the unique identity of God includes the loving relationship between Father and Son. This divine unity is the source from which all Christian unity flows, inviting believers to marvel at the mystery of God’s nature and to find assurance in the unbreakable bond between Jesus and the Father. [38:34]

John 10:30, 38 (ESV)
“I and the Father are one.” … “But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

Reflection: How does the unity between Jesus and the Father deepen your trust in Christ’s words and works?

Day 4: Becoming One as God is One

In His great prayer, Jesus asks that His followers “may be one as we are one,” drawing a parallel between the unity of believers and the unity of the Father and the Son. This oneness is not a static state but a dynamic process—“that they may become perfectly one”—rooted in the love that flows from the Trinity into the community of faith. Believers are invited into a relationship of mutual indwelling with God, and from that relationship, into a unity with one another that reflects God’s own love. The unity of the church is both a witness to the world and a participation in the very life of God. [41:18]

John 17:20-23 (ESV)
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to pursue unity with another believer, reflecting the love of the Father and the Son?

Day 5: Love Overflowing – The Church’s Witness to the World

The love shared between the Father and the Son is not meant to remain enclosed within the Trinity but is poured out into the world through Jesus and His followers. The heart of salvation is to be included in this divine love, and the church’s mission is to embody this love in such a way that the world sees and believes. When believers love one another as Jesus has loved them, their unity becomes a living testimony to God’s love for the world. The church’s oneness is not an end in itself but a means by which the world may know the reality of God’s love and the truth of Christ’s mission. [49:33]

John 13:34-35 (ESV)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Reflection: How can your love for fellow believers today become a visible sign of God’s love to those who do not yet know Him?

Sermon Summary

The word “one” in the Gospel of John carries a depth of meaning that goes far beyond its use as a simple numeral. In both Hebrew and Greek, as well as in English, “one” can signify either uniqueness—being the only one of its kind—or unity—being united rather than divided. This dual significance is crucial for understanding the theological weight the word carries in John’s Gospel and in the broader biblical tradition.

In the Jewish context, the Shema (“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one”) was the central confession of faith, emphasizing the uniqueness of God. This oneness was not just a matter of belief but called for wholehearted love and obedience to God. The prophets, however, also used “one” to speak of the unity God would bring to His scattered and divided people, envisioning a future where Israel would be reunited under one king, the Messiah. This unity was not just organizational but deeply relational, rooted in allegiance to the one God.

First-century Jewish writers like Josephus and Philo extended this idea, connecting the oneness of God to the oneness of His people, His temple, and His law. Philo, in particular, saw devotion to the one God as the fountain from which love and unity among God’s people flowed.

John’s Gospel picks up these themes and transforms them. Jesus is depicted as the unique shepherd who unites a divided people—Jew and Gentile—into one flock. His death is not just for one nation but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. Yet, John goes further than the prophets: Jesus prays that His followers may be one as He and the Father are one, introducing a new dimension of unity that mirrors the intimate communion within the Godhead itself.

This unity is not merely organizational or doctrinal but is rooted in the mutual indwelling love of the Father and the Son—a love that overflows to include believers. The ultimate goal is that this loving unity among believers would be so compelling that the world would recognize God’s love at work. The heart of salvation, then, is not just forgiveness or deliverance, but being drawn into the very love that exists between the Father and the Son, and through that, becoming a community whose unity bears witness to God’s love for the world.

Key Takeaways

1. The word “one” in Scripture is theologically rich, signifying both uniqueness and unity. In the Shema, it proclaims the uniqueness of God, but in the prophets and John’s Gospel, it also points to the unity God desires for His people—a unity that overcomes division and is rooted in allegiance to the one God. This dual meaning invites us to reflect on both the singularity of God and the call to be united as His people. [05:31]
2. The unity of God’s people is not merely a social or organizational goal, but a spiritual reality grounded in the person of Jesus. Just as the ancient hope was for Israel to be reunited under one shepherd, so in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles are gathered into one flock. This unity is achieved not by human effort, but by the self-giving love of the one Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. [24:30]
3. The oneness Jesus prays for among His followers is patterned after the oneness He shares with the Father. This is not a superficial or merely external unity, but a profound communion that reflects the mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son. Our unity as believers is meant to be a living participation in the divine love, not just agreement or cooperation. [41:18]
4. The love that unites the Father and the Son is the source and model for the love that should unite believers. This love is not self-generated but is poured into us by Christ, enabling us to love one another as He has loved us. The command to love one another is thus not just a moral imperative, but an invitation to share in the very life and love of God. [49:33]
5. The unity and love of the Christian community are not ends in themselves, but are meant to be a witness to the world. When believers are perfected into one, the world sees a reflection of God’s love and is drawn to believe. The mission of the church, then, is inseparable from its unity in love—a unity that flows from the heart of the Trinity and reaches out to embrace the world. [48:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:09] - The Many Meanings of “One”
[03:44] - Uniqueness vs. Unity
[05:31] - The Shema and Jewish Monotheism
[09:53] - Prophetic Hope: Israel’s Reunification
[11:25] - Ezekiel’s Vision of One People, One King
[16:43] - First-Century Jewish Reflections on Oneness
[18:04] - One God, One Temple, One People
[19:53] - Love as the Bond of Unity
[21:28] - Oneness in John: Gathering God’s People
[23:16] - The Good Shepherd and One Flock
[27:23] - The Death of One for the Many
[31:30] - Jesus Prays for Oneness
[33:58] - Jesus and the Father: A New Oneness
[38:34] - Mutual Indwelling: The Language of Communion
[41:18] - The Analogy of Divine and Human Unity
[45:31] - The Overflow of Divine Love
[48:16] - Unity as Witness to the World
[49:33] - The New Commandment: Love One Another
[52:35] - God’s Love for the World
[54:07] - Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Meaning of “One” in John’s Gospel

Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Ezekiel 37:15-24

(Selections)
“...I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms... My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd.”

John 17:20-23

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Observation Questions

In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, what does the phrase “the Lord is one” emphasize about God’s nature and the response expected from His people?
According to Ezekiel 37, what is the significance of the two sticks becoming one, and what does this symbolize for Israel’s future?
In John 17:20-23, what kind of unity does Jesus pray for among His followers, and how does He describe the relationship between Himself and the Father?
The sermon mentions that Jesus’ prayer for unity is not just about agreement or organization, but about a deeper kind of communion. What language does John use to describe this unity? ([41:18])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important that the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) was not just a belief statement, but also a call to wholehearted love and obedience? How does this shape the way we think about God’s uniqueness? ([06:14])
In Ezekiel’s vision, the unity of God’s people is tied to having “one shepherd.” What does this suggest about the source and nature of true unity among God’s people? ([15:42])
Jesus prays that His followers would be one “as we are one.” What does it mean for Christian unity to be patterned after the unity between the Father and the Son? How is this different from just getting along or agreeing on doctrine? ([41:18])
The sermon says that the unity and love of the Christian community are meant to be a witness to the world. Why do you think Jesus connects the unity of believers with the world’s ability to recognize God’s love? ([48:16])

Application Questions

The Shema called Israel to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength. What would it look like for you to love God with your whole being this week? Are there areas where your devotion is divided? ([06:14])
Ezekiel’s vision was about God reuniting a divided people. Are there divisions—big or small—in your relationships, family, or church community that God might be calling you to help heal? What is one step you could take toward reconciliation? ([11:25])
Jesus is described as the unique shepherd who unites a diverse people. How can you personally contribute to unity in your church or small group, especially among people who are different from you? ([24:30])
The unity Jesus prays for is rooted in the love between the Father and the Son. Is there someone in your life (inside or outside the church) whom you find difficult to love? How might you draw on Christ’s love to move toward them this week? ([49:33])
The sermon says that Christian unity is not just about being organized, but about sharing in the life and love of God. What practices (prayer, confession, serving, etc.) help you experience this kind of unity with other believers? ([41:18])
Jesus says that the world will know God’s love by the way Christians love one another. Can you think of a time when you saw or experienced this kind of love in a church community? How did it impact you or others? ([48:16])
The heart of salvation, according to the sermon, is being drawn into the love between the Father and the Son. How does this understanding of salvation challenge or encourage you in your faith journey? ([46:58])

End of Guide

Sermon Clips

“This little word one in those texts, I think, becomes a theologically very potent term. Well worth thinking about.”

“The word one actually is used in a far wider variety of ways and with a far wider significance than two or three or four or any of the other ordinary numerals. Actually one is much more than just a number.”

“In the first case it can signify uniqueness or singularity. That there is only one of a person or thing in question.”

“On the other hand however the word one can signify unity, being united, unified. So whereas in the first case uniqueness we're thinking of one of something rather contrasted with many of those things, in this case we're thinking of unity as opposed to division.”

“Jews were exceptional and widely known to be exceptional because they acknowledged and worshipped only one God.”

“According to the Shema, God's people are to love him with their whole being, worshipping this one God alone, practising their devotion to him through obedience to God's law, the Torah.”

“God is one means God is unique. There is only one of him.”

“The great hope for the future of God's people that we find in the prophets of that period includes the hope that God is going to regather his people whom he has scattered among the nations, returning them to the land of Israel.”

“The meaning when the prophets speak of Israel in the future becoming one, clearly that's unitedness, the overcoming of division, overcoming of separation, in reuniting all the people of Israel into a unified people once again.”

“Here the thought is of uniqueness. They will have one king, not many. So here what we have is a very interesting and intelligible connection between a unified people and their unique ruler. They are unified by the leadership of a single king.”

“God's people compose one people because they're united in their devotion to the one God, whose one law they obey and in whose one temple they gather to worship him.”

“Devotion to the one God unites the one people of God, he says, in a bond of love for each other. So not only does God's law command them all to love one another, but also, Philo is saying, their belief in the one God, as it were, inspires in them a love that unites them with each other.”

“The highest and greatest source of this unanimity of the Jewish people is their creed of a single God through which, as from a fountain, they feel a love for each other, uniting them in an indissoluble bond.”

“Jesus, in chapter 17, prays very prominently among the topics of Jesus' great prayer in chapter 17. Jesus prays that they may become one. His disciples may become one. Climaxing in the final goal that they should become completely one.”

“So here we have, apparently, as in Ezekiel, two divided parts of the people of God who are going to be brought together to form a united people, the one flock, united by their single shepherd, the Messiah. The unitedness of the people is related to the uniqueness of their leader.”

“John tells us that Caiaphas, quote, prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation. And he means, of course, in a theological sense, the atonement. He's about to die for the nation, but not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God.”

“In chapter 17, Jesus prays that his disciples may be one as we are one. In other words, as Jesus and his father are one. He says that twice in verses 11 and 22.”

“Jesus says, I and the Father are one. It must be an allusion to the Shema. The word one there could not fail to recall the Shema for any Jewish hearer or reader. But as well as the uniqueness of the one God, there's one God rather than many gods, the usual significance of the Shema. We also have here that other dimension of oneness language, unity, being at one with one another. The Father and the Son are one in their communion with each other.”

“How is it that the Father and the Son can be one because the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father? And that in one another language, as I call it, because it occurs elsewhere later on in John's Gospel, as you'll see, in one another language, Father in me and I in the Father, refers to this uniquely intimate communion that unites the Father and the Son.”

“The unity of believers is a kind of process, a dynamic process of becoming. And it will only be complete in the final fulfillment of God's purpose at the end.”

“That from the loving communion between the Father and the Son flows the love with which Jesus loved his disciples. And that's a love that enables them to enjoy an intimate communion with Jesus and his Father, and in one another relationship with Jesus and his Father. And then from that overflowing of divine love into the world, the oneness of believers among themselves also results.”

“The heart of salvation, according to the Gospel of John, is the inclusion of believers in the love between the Father and the Son, the overflowing of the love of the Father and the Son to include human beings within it, within that circle of divine love.”

“They're being united in the love of the Father and the Son as it takes effect in human relationships.”

“Twice Jesus prays in chapter 17 that believers may be one so that the world may believe. So, it doesn't stop with the circle of Jesus' disciples as they are. They are to be one, united in love, so that the world may believe.”

“The world will recognise God's love at work and reflected in the Christian community. And that's the most important thing the Gospel of John says about the mission of the church in the world.”

“It entails the Son's mission to include humans within that divine love. It creates the loving community of disciples of Jesus, and thereby it reaches the world.”

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