You'd think that Jesus could have been more practical wouldn't you. He's praying for you and me - the ones who would believe because of the apostolic 
testimony. We know what we need and we don't see it in these verses. Why no mention of world poverty, global warming, international justice, peace? And when it comes down to it - why is there nothing about the things that are really important to us in everyday life: the kids, health, family finances, the broken washing machine and well, frankly, a parking space when we're stressed out, late and having a bad hair day? It's not a very real-world prayer. And not very long either, come to think of it.
So what does Jesus pray for as he prays for us, for 'future church'? Well, it's more than parking spaces.
He prays that we will know the same unity as He has with the Father, in which shared life includes mutually-given glory. He prays also that we will live in him and therefore also in the Father. He asks for these things for the same reason: so that the world might know that Jesus is the one whom the Father has sent.
Let's unpack it. Jesus prays that the world will be able to browse Christians United and see that Jesus is God, that Jesus is the Messiah, that Jesus alone truly reveals the Father, that what Jesus has done - his Father's mission - is what we need. In such a unified church we should see the glory of God on earth.
I'm a Church of Scotland minister in
Aberdeen city centre. In what we sometimes call 'our' parish (cringe!) there are nine other churches. About three years ago we wrote to all nine and invited their leadership to meet simply to find out what was happening and to pray for each other. This gathering now happens regularly: from very widely diverse backgrounds we do indeed meet, enjoy each others company and go round the table praying for each other. Out of this have grown jointly organised holiday clubs, joint visitations to invite people to Christmas and Easter services, a variety of evangelistic events for the city centre, 24/7 prayer and some wonderful, encouraging friendships. Why hadn't we done this before? What on earth did we think we were doing for the Kingdom and for God's glory by keeping ourselves to ourselves? What rank conceit made any of us think that we were 'better' than the others and better without the others? But God did something and the prayer of Jesus is being answered. And it's wonderful. It's far from perfect but it glorifies God and it buttresses the telling of the gospel. The events that have been organised aren't the point; the unity and the glory of God are the point.
But I'm a Church of Scotland minister in Aberdeen. I'm part of an ecclesiastical organisation that is profoundly fractured and breaking apart on different tectonic plates. It is deeply painful because this fundamental disunity brings disgrace on the name of Jesus. It masks his glories and gags the clear proclamation of his gospel.
Here's my question. Is what Jesus asked for so important to Christians in Scotland that if we were given one prayer which was sure to be answered we'd pray what Jesus prayed? Christian unity or world poverty - rank them; which comes top? Jesus' glory in his united church or climate change - what's your priority? I know we do not face such an 'either/or' choice; but if we did where do your instincts lie?
Rev. Dominic Smart is the minister at Gilcomston South Church in Aberdeen. He has written several books, including When We Get It Wrong, on failure; Grace, Faith and Glory, on the Bible's antidotes to legalism; and Kingdom Builders and Kingdom Growth on the book of Acts
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