And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth. (Jn 17:11-19)
One of the contents of Jesus prayer is unity. He prays for the unity among his disciples. The unity that Jesus prays for his disciples is supposed to reflect the unity of the father and the son. The model or the goal is very clear. This only goes to say that any disunity among disciples is a scandal. Shall we say that any division among disciples is a scandal?
Jesus believed that whatever happens in the world is in fulfilment of the scriptures. He says this with regard to his mission. He was sent to bring the word of God to his disciples and protect them. He has done so. But only one was lost and that too happened according to the scriptures.
What is truth? Pilate asked Jesus and Jesus did not reply him. He kept silent. Here in his prayer to the father he is very clear about truth. He says your word is truth. Word of God is truth and Jesus himself is the word and he is the truth.
