Join Us

Christ prayed for His apostles (Jn. 17: 11-19)

“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.  12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.  13 And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves.  14 I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  15 I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  17 Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.  18 As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.  19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth” (John 17: 11-19).

The time had come for the sorrowing Master to leave His disciples behind.  Knowing their vulnerability, Jesus’ heart was deeply burdened for their spiritual well-being in an ungodly world of evil and vicious foes.  In verses 11-16, He prayed for His Father’s preserving grace upon them in their times of trials and testings. 

How did the disciples feel when they heard their Saviour’s petition for them?  They might have recalled their frequent contentions over who should be the greatest among them.  But their Lord did not ask that any of them be exalted, but that all “may be one.”  The Father heard the Son’s prayer and united their hearts; and “we read of no more disputes among them” – F L Mortimer.

Mortimer made some interesting observations:  “During the time their Lord lay in His grave, they mingled their tears together; when He appeared to them after His resurrection, they were assembled in one room; and after He had ascended, they continued with one accord in prayers and supplications.  It is the design of Jesus that all His people shall live together forever and ever.  None of them could bear the idea of not dwelling with their Lord.  They must, therefore, dwell together.  It is sad to think that even true believers sometimes disagree when living for a little while beneath the same roof.  Ah, did they but remember that they will live forever in their Father's house, they could never harbour one unkind thought.”

The Saviour had lovingly watched over those who were His; except for the son of perdition, none would be lost: “that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”   Jesus was referring to His treacherous disciple, Judas Iscariot, whose heart was maliciously intent on destroying his Master and wilfully set upon his own destruction.

Knowing that their Master was leaving them was hard on the disciples; they yearned to be taken out of this world and to follow Him (Jn. 13: 36-37).  This sentiment was echoed by the apostle Paul whose desire was  “to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philp. 1: 23).  Like the disciples,  we may sometimes feel weary and long to be present with the Lord (II Cor. 5: 8).   Note that the Lord did not pray for them to be taken out of this sinful world.   He prayed “not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”   The Lord has a purpose for our being in this world; He has entrusted us with the great work of evangelising the lost.    Let us be faithful to witness for Him where He has placed us.

“Though Christ loves His disciples, He does not presently send for them to heaven, as soon as they are effectually called, but leaves them for some time in this world, that they may do good and glorify God upon earth, and be ripened for heaven … But what would become of the world, if all the servants of Christ were taken out of it?  The Sabbath would return, but no faithful minister would entreat sinners to flee from the wrath to come; the Bible might be opened, but no pious friend would press the truth home upon the conscience of the heedless reader; death would come, but none would point the departing soul to Christ, or, kneeling by his bedside, would implore mercy in the last hour” – Matthew Henry.

In verses 17-19, the Saviour prayed for that they might be made holy through God’s Word : “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.    As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”   Why did Jesus pray: “I sanctify Myself”?  The word “sanctify” does not refer here to personal sanctification, for Christ has no sin, but to setting Himself apart wholly to the work of redemption.

 “The passages of Scripture which prove that the instrument of our sanctification is the Word of God are very many.   The Spirit of God brings to our minds the precepts and doctrines of truth, and applies them with power.  These are heard in the ear, and being received in the heart, they work in us to will and to do of God’s good pleasure.  The truth is the sanctifier, and if we do not hear or read the truth, we shall not grow in sanctification.  We only progress in sound living as we progress in sound understanding” – C H Spurgeon.  May we abide in God’s Word and allow it to mould our Christian character and transform our lives.   (… to be concluded)