I in them and You in Me (John 17:23 )

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. - John 17:22-23

Chapter 17 of John's gospel is certainly one of the most profound in the entire Bible.

In it Jesus speaks intimately to His Father as He prepares to get delivered over to face His crucifixion. This monologue has been called the high priestly prayer as Jesus - acting as our High Priest - intercedes to the Father on our behalf.

The relationship that the Christian has with Jesus cannot be defined by any type of earthly relationship. The New Testament makes it clear that Christ lives inside of the Christian (Gal 2:20, 2 Cor 13:5, Col 1:27, Eph 3:17).

This is not meant to be taken symbolically or metaphorically, but rather it is meant to be understood as being literally true. If we have trouble understanding this concept, it is our understanding that needs adjusting, not the concept.

Jesus states here in His prayer that He lives in us, and the Father lives in Him. Therefore, when we get Jesus, we get the Father as well. But without Jesus, we have no access to the Father.

Jesus Christ is the great Mediator between God and man. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus, and no one can go through Jesus without arriving at the Father. No one who seeks Christ long enough and hard enough can fail to find Him, "for he is not far from any one of us."

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

- 2 Cor 13:5