Scriptures: John 17:13-26
Prayer for Unity and Glory
13 But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 “I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; 23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
THE WORD vs THE WORLD
It is the night before Jesus was crucified and we listen in to the prayer that Jesus prayed. He was leaving this world, but he was leaving his disciples behind.
Just prior to this in John 16, he told them that in this world they would have sorrow and tribulation, but he had overcome the world. (v.33) And prior to this he said: “Truly, truly I tell you, you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be grieved, but your grief shall be turned into joy.” (v20)
And now in this prayer he says: “But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.” (17:13-16)
Notice here that even though they didn’t belong to this world, Jesus wasn’t taking them out of the world, but rather they would be kept from the evil one. And what was going to keep them? Take a look at the next verses:
“Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.”
GOD’S WORD IS TRUTH!!! The world is full of LIES!!
Jesus had given his disciples to go INTO the world and preach the GOSPEL – preach and teach the TRUTH in a world that was ruled by the devil, the father of lies. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, they would do this, because the Spirit of Truth would “convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (16:8), and would “guide you into all truth.” (16:13) And we so praise God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, they did this starting in Acts on the day of Pentecost.
However, Jesus did not pray just for those disciples who were with him. Look at who he prayed for next:
“Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.” (v20-23)
So the take-aways here:
1. Jesus didn’t call us to come OUT of the world – rather to be IN the world, but not OF the world.
2. Jesus gave us the TRUTH of his WORD to take INTO the WORLD to expose the LIES of the devil, and convince people of the TRUTH. To shine a light into the darkness.
3. Those who are SEEKING TRUTH will come to the LIGHT and be saved.
4. Remember, Jesus has OVERCOME the world, we just need to rescue people from it.
5. They will be convinced of the truth by OUR UNITY and LOVE for God and one another.