Shortly before crossing the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He would be betrayed, Jesus prayed for His disciples and all who would believe through their testimony. His prayer is recorded in John 17 and in it He shares His heart. He prays that we will be one just as He and the Father are one. In fact He wants us to be one in Them. He has invited us into intimate fellowship with the Godhead – the kind of fellowship enjoyed by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit since eternity past (Jn 17: 21).
In verse 23, He says that the Father has loved us just as He has loved Him (Jn 17:23-24). Can it be that the Father loves us as much as He does His Son? That seems to be what Jesus is saying and it explains the cross (John 3:16 & 1 John 3:16).
He wants us to demonstrate the same kind of love, not only to God, but to each other. In fact, this is how the world is supposed to be able to believe the Gospel message – as they observe our love and relationship with one another.
The day after this prayer Jesus modeled this great love on the cross and made such a relationship with God and each other really possible.
Suggested Study: Read and meditate on John 17 every day for a week.