Summary4 min read

The Daily Blade: Episode #177 – Kyle Thompson // Jesus Prays for All Believers

Podcast Hosts: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
Date: September 4, 2025
Theme: Unpacking Jesus’ Prayer for All Believers in John 17:20–23

Episode Overview

In this episode, hosts Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson delve into the heart of Jesus’ high priestly prayer, focusing specifically on John 17:20–23—a passage where Jesus intercedes not only for His disciples but for all future believers. Their conversation centers on the significance of unity among Christians, the deep love God the Father has for believers, and the evangelistic implications of Christian oneness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jesus’ Broader Intercession (John 17:20)

Not Just for Disciples: Jesus’ prayer extends beyond His immediate disciples to “those who will believe in me through their word.”
Presumptive Success:

“So this is presumptive by Jesus, right? It’s a presumptive success… That’s what Jesus is doing here.” — Kyle Thompson (01:21)
The point is made that Jesus prays with the expectation that the disciples’ mission will succeed, and that future believers—including listeners today—are included in His prayer.

2. Unity Among Believers (John 17:21)

Divine Model for Unity:
Jesus describes the unity He desires among believers as being like the unity between Him and the Father:

“Unity, unity, unity. Jesus is praying for comprehensive unity here amongst the believers.” — Kyle Thompson (02:00)
Purpose of Unity:
This unity is not for its own sake, but for mission—so “the world may believe that you have sent me.”

“It’s not unity for unity’s sake. This is missional in nature… When there is legitimate unity, it’s a message to the world that makes evangelism more effective.” — Kyle Thompson (02:27)

3. The Gift of Glory (John 17:22)

Shared Glory:
Jesus shares with believers the glory given to Him by the Father, intending that this shared glory would foster unity.
Reflection of the Trinity:

“The gift of glory is actually reflected in that unity.” — Kyle Thompson (02:56)

4. Indwelling of Christ (John 17:23)

Christ in Believers:
Referencing Paul’s writings, Kyle explains that Christ actually dwells within believers (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27).

“So we see from other parts of the New Testament that Christ actually dwells within believers.” — Kyle Thompson (03:13)
Ultimate Unity:
The goal is “perfectly one”—a complete and perfect unity mirroring the unity of the Godhead.
Evangelistic Purpose, Again:

“The purpose of the unity is for the work of evangelism.” — Kyle Thompson (03:35)

5. Staggering Love of the Father

Equal Love:
Jesus reveals that believers are loved by the Father in the same way He loves His own Son:

“This is actually stunning. It's very, very humbling. It's just amazing overall. Essentially, Jesus is stating that believers are loved by God the Father in the same way that he loves his own Son.” — Kyle Thompson (03:46)

6. Reflective Questions for Listeners

Application:
The episode closes by posing two practical, reflective questions:
1. How can you pursue unity with believers in your life?
2. What would it mean if you could help facilitate love and oneness amongst the body of Christ?

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Presumptive Close Analogy:

“Many of you are in sales, so I’m sure you’re aware of something called the presumptive close… That’s what Jesus is doing here.” — Kyle Thompson (01:39)
On the Missional Nature of Unity:

“When there is legitimate unity, it’s a message to the world that makes evangelism more effective.” — Kyle Thompson (02:36)
On Divine Love:

“Believers are loved by God the Father in the same way that he loves his own Son.” — Kyle Thompson (03:48)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:20–01:10 — Introduction & Context: Focusing on John 17:20–23
01:11–02:30 — Jesus’ Intercession for All Believers; Presumptive Success Analogy
02:31–03:00 — Call for Unity; Model of the Trinity; Missional Purpose
03:01–03:40 — The Gift of Glory; Christ Dwelling in Believers; Evangelistic Outcomes
03:41–04:30 — The Father’s Love for Believers; The Climax of Jesus’ Prayer
04:31–05:10 — Application Questions & Encouragement

Tone & Takeaway

The episode carries an urgent and encouraging tone, urging listeners to pursue practical unity within the body of Christ as a witness to the world and to rest in the knowledge of being deeply loved by God. The hosts break down Scripture with clarity, tying theological insight directly to everyday Christian living.

“Guys, the goal is perfect and complete unity here so that the world may know that you sent me.” — Kyle Thompson (03:35)

Recommended Action:
Read John 17:20–23 again, reflect on your role in Christian unity, and consider tangible steps to foster oneness within your community.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
[00:21]
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All right, guys, glad to have you back. I hope you've been reading John 17 every day this week because that's where we're parked this week. We're digging deep into the high priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17. Yesterday we looked at verses 13, 13 through 19 where Jesus prayed for the mission of the disciples. Today we're in verses 20 through 23 where Jesus is praying for all believers. I'll read those verses here. I do not ask for those only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us. So that the world may believe that you have sent me. 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 and 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. All right, let's dig in. Verse 20. I do not ask for these only. So this intercession is not just for the disciples, right? It's not just for the apostles, and of which there are essentially only 11 of them right now. So who is Jesus asking on behalf of, but also for those who will believe in me. So this is presumptive by Jesus, right? It's a presumptive success. And many of you are in sales, so I'm sure you're aware of something called the presumptive close. It's where you talk about a deal as if it's done before it is actually done done. And that's what Jesus is doing here through their word. So Jesus believes, knows that the disciples will be successful in their mission of spreading the good news of his own resurrection from the dead. And that the people will put their belief in, that they will put their fai. That they will do so because they will hear the gospel preached from the mouths of Those disciples, verse 21, that they may all be one. So unity, unity, unity. Jesus is praying for comprehensive unity here amongst the believers. So I certainly don't think we've done the best job of that, you know, as we've carried on into the future. But let's get back to it here, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us. So the unity of believers here actually reflects the oneness of God the Father and also God the Son, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. So it's not unity for unity's sake. This is missional in nature. So the. The prayer is for unity of believers so that non believers are attracted to belief. Right. So when there is legitimate unity, it's a message to the world that makes evangelism more effective. Now, verse 22, the glory that you have given me, I have given to them. So here's the sovereignty of God all over again. So God gave glory to Jesus and now Jesus gives it to the believers. And why is that glory given to them? That they may be one, even as we are one and the we. Here is another description of the Trinity. And there is unity in the Trinity and Jesus is praying for a similar unity amongst believers. The gift of glory is actually reflected in that unity. Now, verse 23, I In them, and you in me. So we see from other parts of the New Testament that Christ actually dwells within believers. So Paul says this in Galatians 2:20. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Then he also says this in Colossians 1:27. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, and which is Christ in you the hope of glory that they may become perfectly one. So perfectly one. Guys, the goal is perfect and complete unity here so that the world may know that you sent me. Again, there is a reiteration here that the purpose of the unity is for the work of evangelism and love them even as you loved me. As you loved me. I mean, guys, this is. This is actually stunning. It's very, very humbling. It's just amazing overall. Essentially, Jesus is stating that believers are loved by God the Father in the same way that he loves his own Son. So in many ways this is the climax of the climax of the high priestly prayer of Jesus. And here are a couple of questions for you to reckon with today. How can you pursue unity with. With believers in your life? And what does it mean if you can help facilitate. What would it mean rather if you could help facilitate love and oneness amongst the body of Christ. All right, give John 17 another read as we march towards tomorrow where we will wrap up our discussion of Jesus and His prayer while he is praying for eternal fellowship.
[05:13]
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Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.