We now continue our examination of verses 15-19 of John chapter 17.
John 17:15, I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the
world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (KJV) Jesus continues His intense prayer for the disciples of His day. As we have seen previously in Part 7, the Apostles especially would be facing martyrdom in just a few years. Not only the Apostles, but also many of the disciples were persecuted and that went on for many years.
He doesn’t pray that the Father would take them out of the world in order that they might not undergo the trials that lay ahead of them. Instead He prays that the Father would keep them from the
“evil one.” Of course, that “evil one” is Satan himself. He was praying especially and definitively for His church disciples who had been chosen by Him, from the beginning, to be witnesses and a witnessing agency to carry on His church work, after they were empowered, after He was gone. This is and was the heart of His Sermon on the Mount and the heart of His prayer here.
John 17:16, They are not of the world, even as I am not of the
world.
Jesus is here saying that they did not choose for carnal, covetous, selfish reasons to follow Him, as Judas did, simply for worldly gain.
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John 17:17, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Sanctify means to set apart or consecrate as sacred or holy, from profane use, to make sacred or holy and set apart for holy or sacred service.
This sanctification is said to be by faith in Jesus Christ, Acts 26:18; And by the Word, Ephesians 5:26; 2 Thessalonians 2:13.
Acts 26:18, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to
light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may
receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which
are sanctified by faith that is in me. (KJV) Ephesians 5:26, That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word, (KJV) 2 Thessalonians 2:13, But we are bound to give thanks alway to
God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from
the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of
the Spirit and belief of the truth: (KJV) Jesus goes on to say, "Your word is truth." God’s Word was not only true but also truth in essence of existence, without error. His Word is truth, as a rule and guide for life and to salvation.
John 17:18, As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I
also sent them into the world. (KJV)
Jesus had been commissioned by God to come into the world to carry out the Father’s Will. Up to and including the time of Jesus’
Prayer here, He had fulfilled the Father’s Will. Even so, Jesus said, 48
"I also sent, mandated, or commissioned them (to go) into the world," all the world, as a chosen church body to disseminate or sow the truth, Acts 1:8.
Mark 16:15, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature. (KJV) Matthew 28:18-20, 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen. (KJV)
Luke 24:46-52, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus
it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye
are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise
of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until
ye be endued with power from on high. 50 And he led them out
as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from
them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him,
and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: (KJV) John 17:19, And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also
might be sanctified through the truth.
Jesus sanctified Himself as an example of a Holy Life, wholly committed to do God’s will and work, without selfishness, sin or 49
rebellion. His consecration of Himself was, to His sacrificial death, for every believer, and for the church in particular.
John 6:38, For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will,
but the will of him that sent me. (KJV) John 10:38, But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the
works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me,
and I in him. (KJV)
Philippians 2:5-7, 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no
reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of men: (KJV) Hebrews 7:26, For such an high priest became us, who is holy,
harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than
the heavens; (KJV)
Jesus sanctified Himself in order that the Disciples might also be sanctified in truth, in the province of the word of truth, to do His bidding through the church, to God’s glory. The church is the pillar and ground, support of the truth; For His truth "endureth forever."
Colossians 3:16, 17, 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in
all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
(KJV)
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1 Timothy 3:15, But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how
thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (KJV)
Ephesians 3:21, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (KJV) Psalm 117:2, For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the
truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. (KJV) Conclusion: Jesus knew what lay ahead of His disciples. This is why this part of the Lord’s Prayer was so intense. In spite of the horrific and violent persecution that would befall the disciples, He sent them into the world to be His Ambassadors.
This commission has never been rescinded in spite of all that the saints have endured down through the ages. We are now facing some very intense times today. We don’t know where this global crises will lead. One thing we can be sure of: life will never be the same as it was.
If there was ever a time for God’s people to be committed and faithful, it is now. We can rest assured that Jesus has prayed for us.
We will see that in the next lesson.
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The Lord’s Prayer