Sunday, January 3, 2021
John 17:6-19
“Locked and Loaded”
Service Orientation:
Although we are in the world, we are not to be of it, and we most certainly are not to retreat from it either. In Christ, we are called to overcome the world.
Memory Verse for the Week:
John 2:15 – “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”
Background Information:
- These men are being sent into the world. As Jesus has been sent by the Father, so they are sent by the Son. His mission will be their mission. So Jesus asks that they be sanctified, set apart, and consecrated for their special task (v. 17). It is the truth of Jesus’ word, which is the whole message of God’s love and glory as it is revealed in the words and teaching of Jesus, which will equip them for this mission. They have already been called and made clean by that word. Now they are sanctified by it; they belong to Jesus. Union with Him gives them authority and power for the mission. (Roger L. Fredrikson, The Communicator’s Commentary: John, 257)
- 17 “Sanctify” (haigiazo) means “to separate” or “to set apart,” usually for some specially good purpose or use. Its derivative meaning thus becomes “dedicate” or “consecrate” and then “to revere” or “to purify.” The believer is so changed by the working of God’s Word in his life that he is separated from evil and to God. (Frank E. Gæbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, 165)
- In the Bible, “name” refers to “nature,” because names so often were given to reveal something special about the nature of the person bearing the name. Jacob was a schemer, and his name comes from a Hebrew root that means “to take by the heel,” i.e., to trip up, to deceive (Gen. 25:26). The name Isaac means “laughter” (Gen. 21:6) because he brought joy to Abraham and Sarah. Even the name Jesus reveals that He is the Savior (Matt. 1:21). (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 295)
- The Greek word translated “declared” means, “to unfold, to lead, to show the way.” Jesus did not instantly reveal the Father in a blaze of blinding glory, because His disciples could not have endured that kind of experience. Gradually, by His words and His deeds, He revealed to them the nature of God, as they were able to bear it (John 16:12). (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 295)
- “The one doomed to destruction” (lit. “son of perdition”) is a phrase used in only one other passage in the NT. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3 it is applied to the Antichrist. Because of this singular coincidence, some have assumed that the Antichrist will be Judas resurrected! More likely this phrase was a common Semitism denoting an abandoned character, one utterly lost and given over to evil. The language does not imply that Judas was a helpless victim who was destined to perdition against his will. Rather, it implies that, having made his decision, he had passed the point of no return; and, by so doing, he carried out what the Scriptures had indicated would happen. (Frank E. Gæbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, 164)
The question to be answered is…
What is it about Jesus’ high priestly prayer that should draw the attention of his disciples?
Answer…
This prayer reveals some of Jesus’ deepest desires when it comes to his followers. As Jesus’ disciples today we’d do well to live into these desires as well.
The word of the day is… live
What are some of Jesus’ deepest desires when it comes to his disciples?
- For them to realize their status as his cherished possession.
(Mal. 3:17; John 1:12; 3:16; Rom. 8:14; Gal. 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 3:1)
By far the largest part of Jesus’ prayer relates to the disciples. He was much more concerned about them than about himself. He was sure of the suffering that was inevitable and the victory that was certain. The disciples, however, were a variable quantity; in themselves they were likely to fail. He had already predicted that they would desert him (Matt 26:31; John 16:32). Nevertheless, he prayed for them with confidence that they would be kept by the Father’s power and presented for a future ministry. (Frank E. Gæbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, 163)
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. (Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1)
- For them to pursue the objective of life for his glory.
(Isaiah 43:7; Matthew 5:16; Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 1:27; 2 Peter 1:3)
The whole purpose of our salvation is to bring glory to Jesus Christ. (J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible Commentary Series, John, 290
We exist to exhibit God, to display His glory. We serve as canvases for His brush stroke, papers for His pen, soil for His seeds, glimpses of His image. (Max Lucado, Cure for the Common Life, 4)
- For them to live life confident of God’s protection.
(Deut. 31:6; Ps. 91:1-16; Is. 41:10; 54:17; Rom. 8:31; 2 Thes. 3:3; Heb. 13:6; 2 Tim. 4:18)
If we have any hope that we are Christ’s true disciples, let us be satisfied that Christ knows better than we do what is for our good. (J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John Vol.2, 175)
- To embrace the mission of being in the world, for the world, but not of the world.
(John 3:16-17; 15:18; Romans 12:2; Galatians 6:14; Colossians 3:2; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15)
Sanctification is not for the purpose of selfish enjoyment or boasting; it is so that we might represent Christ in this world and win others to Him. Jesus set Himself apart for us, and now He has set us apart for Him. The Father sent Him into the world, and now He sends us into the world. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 296)
Conclusion…How can we live into Jesus’ desires as 21st century disciples?
A. Live confident in Christ’s care and protection of you.
(Ps. 32:7; 138:7; Isaiah 54:17; Matthew 6:26; Luke 12:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Peter 5:7)
God has provided the divine resources for us to glorify Him and be faithful. We have His Word (John 17:7–8), and His Word reveals to us all that we have in Jesus Christ. The Word gives us faith and assurance. We have the Son of God interceding for us (John 17:9; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 4:14–16). Since the Father always answers the prayers of His Son (John 11:41–42), this intercessory ministry helps to keep us safe and secure. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 295)
B. Partner with Jesus in pursuing a sanctified life.
(John 17:17; Rom. 6:6; 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20; 1 Thes. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:21; Heb. 13:12)
“Sanctify” means to set apart. The believer is not of the world; he is set apart. The thought has reference to the task rather than the person; it is a commitment to the task. The believer is set apart by the Word of God. That is, the Word reveals the mind of God. As you read the Word, you are lead to set yourself apart for a particular ministry. We can only serve Him as we know His Word and are obedient to it. (J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible Commentary Series, John, 292)
C. Don’t fear or retreat from the world, face it.
(Proverbs 3:26; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 5:14; John 16:33; Philippians 4:13; 1 John 3:20-21)
Pleasant as it might be to flesh and blood to be snatched away from conflict and temptation, we may easily see that it would not be profitable. How could Christ’s people do any good in the world, if taken away from it immediately after conversion? How could they exhibit the power of grace, and make proof of faith, and courage, and patience, as good soldiers of a crucified Lord? How could they be duly trained for heaven, and taught to value the blood and intercession and patience of their Redeemer, unless they purchased their experience by suffering? (J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John Vol.2, 175)
You are called not to be successful or to meet any of the other counterfeit standards of this world, but to be faithful and to be expended in the cause of serving the risen and returning Christ. (Charles Colson, Faith on the Line, 54)
Worship Point…
Worship happens when life is lived for Christ’s glory.
(Mat. 5:16; John 17:22; Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11)
God gets glory by keeping you and me in the world today. We think of the Rapture as wonderful, and it will be. We think of the Rapture bringing glory to God, and it will. But let’s understand one thing: God gets glory by keeping you and me in the world. (J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible Commentary Series, John, 291)
It is not enough merely to study the Bible and learn a great deal of doctrinal truth. We must also love Jesus Christ more as we learn all that He is and all He has done for us. Learning and loving should lead to living, allowing the Spirit of God to enable us to obey His Word. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 296)
Gospel Point…
Jesus came to save a world he dearly loved and has called his people to love others enough to bring this good news to them as well.
The end for which Christ lives, and for which He has left His church in the world, is the salvation of sinners. (Charles Finney, Lectures to Professing Christians, 1837)
Jesus, in this very prayer, reaffirmed His Father’s will by sanctifying himself (17:19) and by devoting himself yet again to the mission awaiting Him— sacrificial death for the sins of the world (1:29). Since the disciples, like Jesus, were being sent … into the world (17:18), they too should be set apart (sanctified) by the Father as agents sent by Jesus (verse 18) for the mission of saving the world. This sort of sanctification brings not isolation from the world, but penetration into the world. (Joseph Dongell, John: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, 205)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- How is Jesus being glorified in your life? What adjustments need to be made in order for your life to better reflect his glory and priorities?
- In what ways do you find it most tempting to embrace the world’s standards and ideals? Who in your life can help you stay focused on Jesus’ priorities for your life?
- How are you growing in your sanctification? What tools are you taking advantage of for growth?
- Christ said, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (v. 18). How do you relate to the world? Through isolation, assimilation, or mission?
Quotes to note…
The unity mentioned here is not simply a unity achieved by legislation. It is a unity of nature because it is comparable to that of the Son and the Father. The unity of the church must spring from the common life that is imparted to all believers by the new birth; and it is manifested in their common love for Christ and for one another as they face a hostile world. (Frank E. Gæbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, 164)
The New Testament knows nothing of isolated believers; wherever you find saints, you find them in fellowship. Why? Because God’s people need each other. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 295)
Christ does not wish His believing people to be taken out of the world, but to be kept from the evil of it. (J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John Vol.2, 175)
The Christian attitude toward the world should not be one of withdrawal. Christ does not ask that we be taken away. Withdrawal has always been a temptation for the religious, and in Jesus’ time the Pharisees succumbed to that temptation. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: John, 366)
The protection for which Jesus prayed should remind one less of castle walls giving shelter to huddled survivors, and more of a soldier’s suit of armor shielding him as he ventures into unfriendly territory. (Joseph Dongell, John: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, 204)
For Jesus to ask that these men be full of His joy (v. 13) does not mean they will escape tribulation and hostility. This would mean taking them out of the world. No, they will remain and be hated, just as Jesus has been, because they are “not of this world. ” To bear the name, to be with Jesus, marks them as aliens in the world. And this provokes trouble; for when they are faithful to the word Jesus has given them, the world reacts with hostility. (Roger L. Fredrikson, The Communicator’s Commentary: John, 257)
“[Jesus’] entire life was a life of prayer. He began His ministry by going into a solitary place to pray. Often He went up into a mountain to pray and spent the night in prayer. He is our great Intercessor. He prays for you and for me. If you forgot to pray this morning, He didn’t. He prayed for you this morning.” (J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible Commentary Series, John, 286)
The key to immeasurable joy is living in intimate contact with Christ, the source of all joy. When we do, we will experience God’s special care and protection and see the victory God brings, even when defeat seems certain. (Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: John, 340)
It is up to us to carry on Jesus’ mission—to make God known to others. Because Jesus sends us into the world, we should not try to escape from the world, nor should we avoid all relationships with non-Christians. We are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), and we are to do the work that God has sent us to do. (Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: John, 342)
Jesus did not, however, ask that they be removed from a disagreeable and dangerous environment. Like him, they had a mission to discharge and must remain to fulfill it, however perilous it might be. (Frank E. Gæbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, 165)
Further Quotes and Research…
Now that the supreme test of their faith was impending, Jesus prayed that they might be preserved against the persecution that could separate them from him and from one another. (Frank E. Gæbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, 163)
The holiness of God contrasts with the selfishness and evil of the world that confronted the disciples. (Frank E. Gæbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, 164)
14 The very fact that the disciples received the message of God from Jesus differentiated them from the world at large. They had a different nature and a different affiliation. Such a radical contrast drew the hatred of the world, which always demands conformity to its viewpoint and practices. (Frank E. Gæbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, 165)
18 “Sent” implies equipment for a definite mission. Jesus united the disciples with himself in the work he began and expected them to continue. (Frank E. Gæbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, 165)
19 In keeping with his words in v.17, Jesus did not mean that he intended to make himself more holy than he already was, when he said, “For their sakes I sanctify myself.” Rather, he was devoting himself to God in the interest of his work for the disciples. His example of dedication to the will of the Father, demonstrated in his unswerving acceptance of the Cross, would be the standard for their sanctification. (Frank E. Gæbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, 165)
No matter what events occurred later that evening, this prayer makes it clear that Jesus was and is the Overcomer. He was not a “victim”; He was and is the Victor! (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 293)
The progression of thought in this prayer is not difficult to discover. Jesus first prayed for Himself and told the Father that His work on earth had been finished (John 17:1–5). Then He prayed for His disciples, that the Father would keep them and sanctify them (John 17:6–19). He closed His prayer by praying for you and me and the whole church, that we might be unified in Him and one day share His glory (John 17:20–26). (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 294)
With all of their failures and faults, the disciples still receive this word of commendation: “I am glorified in them.” (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 295)
Judas is not an example of a believer who “lost his salvation.” He is an example of an unbeliever who pretended to have salvation but was finally exposed as a fraud. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 295)
The Word of God is the gift of God to us. The Father gave the words to His Son (John 17:8), and the Son gave them to His disciples who, in turn, have passed them along to us as they were inspired by the Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21). The Word is divine in origin, a precious gift from heaven. We must never take God’s Word for granted, for those who are overcomers know the Word and how to use it in daily life. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 296)
He did not depend on outward circumstances but on inward spiritual resources that were hidden from the world. This is the kind of joy He wants us to have, and we can have it through His Word. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 296)
The mere knowledge of God is not sufficient, and saves none. We must know the Son as well as the Father. God known without Christ, is a Being whom we can only fear, and dare not approach. It is “God in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself,” who alone can give to the soul life and peace. (J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John Vol.2, 172)
like every other Gospel truth, the doctrine before us needs careful statement and Scriptural guarding. On the one hand, we must not narrow the love of Christ to sinners; and on the other we must not make it too broad. It is true that Christ loves all sinners, and invites all to be saved; but it is also true that He specially loves the “blessed company of all faithful people,” whom He sanctifies and glorifies. It is true that He has wrought out a redemption sufficient for all mankind, and offers it freely to all; but it is also true that His redemption is effectual only to those who believe. (J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John Vol.2, 174)
If prayer reveals the inner and true nature of our religious life, then this seventeenth chapter of John is a mountain peak and serves as the “holy of holies” in the divine
disclosure of the Son of God, made manifest as the Son
of Man. (Samuel Young, Beacon Bible Expositions, 134)
The more we know of Christ, the more we are drawn to him, and the more we are drawn to one another. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: John, 365)
Our Christian lives can easily become monastic. We often find our lives arranged so that we are around nonbelievers as little as possible. We attend Bible studies that are 100 percent Christian, Sunday schools that are 100 percent Christian, and church services that we hope are 100 percent Christian. We read only or at least primarily Christian books, send our kids to Christian schools or homeschool them, listen only or mostly to Christian radio programs or tapes. None of these things are bad, but it is easy to use these so much that we isolate ourselves in a Christian subculture. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: John, 366)
In John 17:11 Jesus encapsulated His revelation of the character of God by the “name” He called God: Holy Father. Here are brought together two crucial dimensions of God’s very nature: holiness (majestic splendor, absolute purity, hostility to evil) and love (fatherly tenderness and care, sacrificial passion for the good of another). (Joseph Dongell, John: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, 204)
We must not misunderstand the tone of Jesus’ prayer. Yes, the hour was dark and foreboding: death awaited Him, and trouble awaited His disciples (see 16:33). But He expected His disciples to overhear His prayer for them and therefore have the full measure of my joy within them (17:13b). They could face the trouble ahead, filled not with fearful worry, but with joyful confidence. This confidence would not be generated by positive thinking strategies or by their brave determination to “have a good attitude.” Rather it would be rooted in the fact that Jesus had “overcome the world” and therefore had charged His disciples to “take heart” (16:33). (Joseph Dongell, John: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, 204)
This chapter contains the most extensive and profound prayer of Jesus we have. When Jesus prayed at Lazarus’s tomb he made it clear that he had no need of expressing prayer because he is one with God in his whole life, the union true prayer expresses. Nevertheless, he prayed for the benefit of those present (11:41-42), and the same is true here as well (17:13). Jesus’ whole life has been a revelation of the Father, based on Jesus’ union with him, so it is appropriate that his teaching concludes in the form of prayer, the genre most closely associated with union with God. (Rodney A. Whitacre, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: John, 402)
While God is commonly known as the Holy One, the expression Holy Father is not found anywhere else in the Bible. Holiness refers to divine otherness, the realm of the divine in contrast to the mundane. Thus, this phrase captures beautifully God’s “purity and tenderness” (Westcott 1908:2:250), the “transcendence and intimacy characteristic of Jesus’ personal attitude to God and of his teaching about God” (Beasley-Murray 1987:299). (Rodney A. Whitacre, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: John, 411)
Judas had heard the words and seen the deeds and even been the recipient of special signs of love from Jesus (see comment on 13:26), but in his heart he was not of the Father (cf. 17:6) and so did not receive with humility, faith and obedience the one sent from the Father. When one rejects the offer of life one is left only with destruction. The tree became known by its fruit. Jesus offered life to Judas, but he did not force Judas to accept it, for he does not force anyone’s acceptance (cf. Chrysostom In John 81.2). (Rodney A. Whitacre, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: John, 411-412)
Jesus’ second great petition is that the Father sanctify the disciples (v. 17). Sanctifying is not the same as the cleansing (13:10; 15:3), but it is related to the pruning (15:2). The word used here (hagiazö) is related to the word “holy” Chagios) that Jesus has just used of the Father (v. 11). It means to consecrate, to set apart. It is used for the preparation necessary for entering the presence of God (Ex 19: 10, 22) and for the commissioning for a divine task, for example, that of a priest (Ex 28:41; 40:13) or a prophet (Jer 1:5; Sirach 49:7). The whole people of God are set apart for God as a holy nation (Ex 19:6), answering the call to be holy as God is holy (Lev 11 :44), in contrast to the foreign nations (2 Macc 1:25-26; 3 Macc 6:3). All three of these nuances are relevant to Jesus’ prayer. This sanctification is by the truth, that is, God’s (Rodney A. Whitacre, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: John, 414)
In first-century Judaism, ‘holiness’ called to mind the Temple in particular. It was the holy place, the place where the holy God had promised to live. It referred particularly to the Holy of Holies, the innermost shrine, where the high priest would go once a year to make atonement for the people. The high priest had to go through special ceremonies of ‘consecration’, to be ‘set apart’ so that he could enter into the presence of the holy God, and pray there for his people. In exactly the same way, Jesus is declaring that he has been, all along, ‘set apart’, ‘consecrated’ for God’s exclusive service. Now, like the high priest, he is asking the father to preserve his people from evil, from the tricks and traps of ‘the world’. He wants them to be his holy people in the best and fullest sense. (N.T. Wright, John for Everyone: Part 2, 96)
There is only one true Church, and every believer in Jesus Christ is a member of that Church. It is called the body of Christ. (J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible Commentary Series, John, 290)
HOW CAN WE GLORIFY CHRIST? While you cannot predict exactly how Jesus will receive glory through your life, you can remove any hindrances to his glory. • Get rid of any immorality. The moral quality of your life must not even tarnish Jesus’ good name. Is Jesus honored by your life? Get rid of pride. Focus on Christ so that he receives honor and acclaim rather than you. Does he get the credit? u Get rid of ambiguity. Your words and actions must clearly show that you are his disciple. Does anyone know you are a Christian? (Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: John, 337)
The place of Judas among the disciples and his choice to betray Jesus highlight the balance that we find throughout the Bible between the awesome sovereignty of God and the freedom he allows people to exercise. We would tip the balance toward error if we would say that Jesus intentionally withheld his protection of Judas to expose him to the temptation of Satan so that the betrayal could happen. We would also be in error if we would say that the temptation of Satan was stronger than Jesus’ ability to protect Judas. Judas was not a puppet on a string. Judas shared the protection offered by the presence of Jesus all during their time together. Judas made his decision to betray Jesus, and by so doing he removed himself from Christ’s protection. He passed the point of no return and thereby fulfilled the scriptural prediction. (Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: John, 339)
“NKJV Three “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. distinct views have emerged to explain what Jesus meant by “Sanctify them by Your truth”: (1) The truth found in God’s Word accomplishes our sanctification. (2) The central truth of God’s saving love sets into motion God’s sanctifying work in us. (3) The process of passing on (preaching, teaching) God’s truth would have a sanctifying effect in the disciples’ lives. These views are actually complementary, describing different aspects of sanctification: the second view highlights the initial pouring of God’s grace into our lives through the truth of the gospel; the first view summarizes the ongoing effects of the applied truths from God’s Word; and the third view emphasizes that progress in sanctification will be seen in our desire and practice of communicating the gospel. God’s Word, then, works as a divine cleansing agent that God uses to bring about our sanctification. (Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: John, 340-341)