Jesus’ prayer in John 17:23 shows His true purpose for leaving His followers in the world: “I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” He would leave them there to spread His gospel message, but He would be in them. His Holy Spirit would come and live and breathe inside of them. They would not be alone.
Imagine how His followers felt as He was led to the cross. And then how they felt as they watched their beloved Savior suffer a death on the cross that He was not guilty of. We see their anguish as there was nothing they could do, but they must have also suffered from fear. Fear of a word without Christ. Sure, He had told them the Spirit was coming, but they did not really understand His words until after everything happened. He had to suffer and die for all of the rest of us. His suffering meant life for generations to come. The world would know of His salvation.
We live on that side of the cross! We know His suffering led to the beautiful resurrection and the life and salvation we now know! Isn’t that wonderful! “The world will know!” May they continue to know of His salvation message because we as the body of Christ are in perfect unity. Strive to be unified!