this entire chapter is what is called the high priestly prayer of Jesus. He begins by approaching God in prayer, in the unique relationship they have together. He then turns his attention to his disciples. In particular that they may be unified in God, and have his protection. In the passage we look at today, he continues his prayer for his disciples, focusing on their ordeal with encountering the world.
John 17:13-21
The Disciples in the World
Jesus comes to the Father in prayer. He is speaking as a man who is in the world, from the perspective of the world. His purpose is that his disciples might have his complete joy. Of all the things he could’ve asked for: discipline, strength, endurance, wisdom or something else, he asks that the disciples have joy.
Jesus has been sent into the world. His mission is complete. He is given his followers God’s word. His disciples, and by extension all believers, are not truly of the world. They are the elect. They have been preselected from the beginning of the world. Because of this preselection, the world hates them.
Why? Because Jesus is not of the world, and his believers are from him. The world always once people to conform to it.
Why would Jesus ask that as believers not be taken out of the world? Why doesn’t he ask our time to be shortened? Or why doesn’t he ask for an easier time in the hardships of this world? Is it because the father would rather draw us all to him immediately once we believe? Does that mean we have a purpose to fulfill on earth before we can be in heaven?
The one encouraging thing that Jesus prays for his believers is to be kept from the evil one. To be protected from the evil one. I think it’s pretty clear that Jesus is not of the world. He claims his disciples, believers are also not of this world. Because the world is the enemy of Jesus, the world will always be an enemy to his followers.
So, Jesus wants us to suffer through the hardships of this world. However, he wants Us kept, protected. He also wants us sanctified, or to be made holy, or set apart for purpose. What makes us sanctified? Truth.
To quote from pilot, “what is truth?” Answer: it’s the word of God.
Jesus was sent into the world for a purpose. He came to a hostile place that hated him, just so he could seek and save the lost sheep of Israel. As his disciples, his followers are also sent on a mission to seek and save.
Jesus shares his sanctification, holiness, with his disciples. There’s a purpose to the sanctification of his disciples. Sanctified by the truth of God’s word.
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
John 17:20 NASB
Jesus is specifically praying for his disciples. However, through this statement we can see he is also praying for all future believers who come to him. This prayer is for you, the believer who is sanctified in his truth.
Why?
that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me.
John 17:21 NASB
Despite all the hardships, turmoil and divisiveness of the world, Jesus greatest goal is to have his followers be unified. Believers should all have the same holy spirit that Christ shares with the father. Believers should not only be unified together, but unified with Christ and got at the same time.
For what purpose? So that we can all have a warm fuzzy happy party together? No, it’s so that while we are on earth we can be witnesses for God. So that the world might also come to believe in him. It is also that God may be glorified, but that’s a topic for our next session.
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