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• Illustration: Buhler relates an apocryphal account of three blind men who disagree bitterly on doctrine because they were healed by Jesus three different ways.
• The bond of unity in the body of Christ can be easily broken.
• How are we to be ministers of unity when we each struggle with our old nature?
• John 17:21
• Jesus' prayer that we would be one was spoken amidst a proud and power-hungry group of disciples.
• The mystery of our sin, for each of us, is our flesh desiring to be the greatest.

• John 13:1–17
• After washing his disciples' feet, Jesus asks them to follow his example and do the same for each other.
• We bring reconciliation only by serving and loving the very people who are proud.
• Illustration: When Buhler first moved to North Vancouver to pastor, he was reluctant to ally himself with pastors of other denominations, but his walls were broken down when they "washed his feet."
• Illustration: Brennan Manning, a white, evangelical Catholic, brought reconciliation by shining a black stranger's shoes.

• John 20:19–23
• Jesus showed his disciples his scars—he showed them his credentials and what would be the result of their following him.
• Before sending them out, Jesus also breathed on them, giving them his Holy Spirit.
• The only way to live with the scars we are called to bear is by receiving the breath of God and forgiving others.
• Illustration: Reconciliation came when a Pentecostal pastor and an Anglican pastor repented of their sins toward one another.
• Illustration: A youth group leader and church tellers were brought to reconciliation through the apology and humility of a third party.
• When we wash feet and forgive sins, we triumph, and we are able to evangelize.

• Illustration: Buhler ends the opening story of the three blind men; they are joined by a Mennonite, and together lower their paralyzed friend through the roof of a home where Jesus is teaching.
• Only if we can all agree on our own condition of sin, and the identity of the Lamb who died for that sin, will we be effective ministers of unity.