Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 17:23

"I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me." — John 17:23 (ASV)

And that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me

This is a great deep. The words are very simple and clear, but their meaning is unfathomable. Is it really true that the Father has loved his chosen ones as he has loved his only-begotten Son? It is such a wonderful thing that one might be willing to lie awake at night to meditate upon the amazing truth here revealed in our Saviour's words: Thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved me.

Wonderful words! How shall we dive into their depths? To think that the Father should have loved us even as he loved his only begotten Son; oh, the heights and depths of this wondrous love!

That they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me,

This is a wonderful truth – that the Father loves the Church even as he loves Jesus Christ his Son. When shall the world ever know this till the unity of the Church is more clearly seen?

I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me.

Now drink that in – all the sweetness of it – that the Father has loved his people even as he loved his Only-begotten.

I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me.

That is a grand expression: You have loved them, as you have loved me. What! With the same love? It is even so: a love without beginning, a love without change, a love without bounds, a love without end: You have loved them as you have loved me.