At a very sad and stressful moment, as Mary Magdalene is coping with the death of Jesus, the empty tomb, and the presence of angels, Jesus appeared to her and gave her instruction with encouragement. "… go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father: and to My God, and your God." (John 20:17) Mary might not have thought about all the wonderful encouragement that was packed into that statement. She probably was full of awe and wonder, but she had to go deliver a very important message. First, notice how tenderly Jesus said, "… go tell my brethren…" Three days earlier, the disciples were running away in every direction. Peter, the strong one, had denied Christ three times. Yet, Jesus was not ashamed to call them brethren! (Hebrews 2:9-10) Secondly, notice that Jesus referred to "… My Father, and your Father… My God, and your God." What oneness of family we have become with God! Peter would one day tell us, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…" (I Peter 3:18 - NKJV) These relational statements must not be overlooked or taken lightly!

Notice the call to relationship that is given to us in II Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1. We are first told not to clog the arteries of a good relationship with God by making worldly and ungodly unions/yokes (II Corinthians 6:14-16a cp. Psalm 1:1-3). We are being offered intimacy with the Triune God! See Romans 8:9. God wants to be a Father to us. He wants us to be sincere and pure, like children, in this relationship (II Corinthians 6:14b - 7:1).

Jesus would have us relate ourselves to Him by seeing His Father as our Father. Below are three statements that Jesus used to help us do that:

• "As the Father loved me, I also have loved you: abide in My love." (John 15:9 - NKJV)


• "That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that you sent me." (John 17:21 - NKJV)


• "… Peace to you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you." (John 20:21 - NKJV)

Let's examine these three statements, so that we can better appreciate our relationship to the Father, to the Son, and to each other.

Love - "As the Father loved me, I also have loved you: abide in My love." (John 15:9)

If we are involved with the same kind of love that the Father has for His Son, then this love is:

• Eternal Love - John 17:24 cp. II Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2; Jeremiah 31:3.


• Perfect Love - John 17:23 cp I John 4:16-18.


• Abiding/Continuing Love - John 17:26 cp. Romans 5:1-5; 8:31-39.

Unity and Testimony - "That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that you sent me." (John 17:21)

If we are united with the Father, as the Son is united with Him, then we are united for a heavenly purpose on earth:

• We are practically united, as a family, with each other - I Corinthians 12:12-27.


• We are spiritually united, with God , who is always with us - Matthew 1:23; 28:18-20; I Corinthians 2:12-16; 6:17,19-20; Ephesians 2:11-22.


• We are openly united before the world - Romans 12:1-2.

Mission - "… Peace to you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you." (John 20:21)

Jesus made a similar statement in John 17:18. Jesus was sent on a mission by the Father (I John 4:14). We are sent in similar manner:

• To contain the living Christ and let Him live through us, so that others can be given life - John 1:4-5,9 cp. Galatians 2:20; II Corinthians 2:14-16. See also John 8:12 cp. Matthew 5:14-16; Ephesians 5:8-11. Jesus is the source of light. We are to be reflectors of His light.


• To continue in this old familiar world but live as strangers in it. We are foreign missionaries, wherever we are on this planet. We will mostly be treated as a foreign object by other people - John 1:10-11; Galatians 6:14; Hebrews 11:13 cp. I Peter 2:11.


• To be full of grace and truth - John 1:14. To distribute grace and truth to others - John 1:16-17. See Colossians 4:5-6; II Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 3:1-7; I Peter 4:10.

Please read John 17:13-26 to capture Christ's mind and heart. This will help you see the essence of this message: Love, Unity, Testimony, Mission.