John 17 is known widely as the “Great High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus. It is part of the long “upper room” discourse, which John places on Maundy Thursday.
In this chapter, which is really the longest prayer of Jesus
recorded for us in Scripture, Jesus prays concerning himself, his disciples,
and finally all believers. He prays for
glory, unity, and truth.
Certainly Jesus is ever our Great High Priest, as one of the
main duties of a priest is to pray for the people, on behalf of the
people. Jesus does this, especially now
as he is ascended. But we get a
foretaste of it on Maundy Thursday.
And if a pastor could give homework assignments, I’d have
you all read and study the entire chapter of John 17, to see the whole prayer
of Jesus. But for now, let’s consider
each of the 7 verses of this prayer the lectionary sets before us today.
12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given
me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Jesus reflects on his time teaching his disciples, for whom
he is praying. He knows he is about to
be separated from them. He knows he will
be arrested, and they will scatter in fear.
He even knows that only Judas will be lost, the “son of destruction”, to
fulfill scripture.
Jesus knows he is coming to the Father. The cross looms before him. Soon he will commit his spirit into the
Father’s hands, and face death head-on.
But his concern is not for himself, but for his beloved disciples. He has kept them in the Father’s name – kept
them from harm, kept them from disbelief, kept them from the clutches of the
enemy. So far so good. But now the true test comes, and Jesus prays
for them all the more.
The same Jesus who kept his beloved apostles keeps you, his
dear children. The same Jesus who faced
the cross for them, does so for you. The
same Jesus who prays for them, prays for you, intercedes for you with the
Father.
He continues… 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that
they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
He speaks in the world – with a purpose in mind – that his
disciples may have his joy fulfilled in themselves.
The words of Jesus, the words he speaks in this world, the
words that are recorded and recited, taught and preached… and believed – these
words bring a fulfillment of joy to his disciples.
Jesus doesn’t want the Christian faith to be a drudgery for
his people. Though, sadly, we often make
it so. While it’s not his intention to
make us miserable, he does tell us there will be crosses to bear. However he also promises joy. And it is his joy – not our own. And it is to be fulfilled in us because of
his words.
The word of Christ brings joy! The good news of Jesus – that your sins are
forgiven by the blood of Jesus shed for you – brings joy! That nothing you can do can earn or complete
or effect your salvation – but that Jesus has done it all – what a joy! And the more we are steeped in this word of
Jesus and good news – the more his joy if fulfilled in us.
Jesus goes on… 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because
they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
A word of warning that also strangely brings comfort
here. Even as he prays to the Father
Jesus must know we are listening in. He
knows that even though he has given his people his word – the world will hate
them. It will hate us because we are of
Christ, and not of the world. And just
as the world hated Jesus, the world hates his people. Don’t take it personally! Don’t be surprised! Don’t act like the world is supposed to love
and embrace us Christians when the same sort of people crucified the Son of
God.
And so you need Jesus’ prayer. You need the Father’s provision and
protection. You need the Spirit to keep
you faithful when faith is under fire.
The world hasn’t gotten any friendlier to Christ and Christians. And it never will. But God is faithful and will bear you up
under such testing and persecution.
15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
One solution might be to just have us Christians taken out
of the world. To put us in some kind of
bubble so that we don’t even have to interact with the non-Christians, the
unbelievers. Or translate us immediately
to heaven and away from this vale of tears.
Or something, Lord, just so we don’t have to face all these enemies!
But that’s not Jesus’ prayer. That’s not his solution. He says, “Father, don’t take them out of the
world. Keep them in the world. And while they’re here, keep them from the
evil one.”
Don’t let the devil have his way! And what does the devil want? But to drive us from the faith. To put a wedge between us and our God. To deceive us, drive us to despair, tempt us
into great sin or other vice, so that we turn away from Christ and that makes
us his.
But Jesus prays, “keep them”. Such a simple request. It echoes the Aaronic blessing we receive so
regularly: the Lord bless you and keep
you. Keep us, Lord, we pray, in Christ,
according to his prayer, and in his name.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Jesus and his people are alike – they are not of the
world. He is not of the world – though
he was in it for a time. Though he took
on human flesh, was born of a woman, lived, breathed, ate, drank, walked,
talked, cried, slept and suffered and died.
So like us in every way, yet without sin.
Yet we are like him, in that he has made us not of this
world. Though you are in the world for a
time, you are ultimately not of it – anymore than Jesus is. For he has made us citizens of heaven,
children of God, a royal and holy priesthood with a future resurrection and an
eternal dwelling being prepared for us.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
To sanctify, to make holy – means to set apart. Set apart for a purpose. Set apart from the world. Christians, sanctified by the truth, are set
apart from the world by that very truth.
And the purpose is as follows:
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
Sent into the world – Jesus was sent to save. The disciples are sent to preach and spread
the good news even to the ends of the earth.
And you and I are sent into our vocations with that same witness of
Jesus. Wherever God has placed you or sent
you, in homes and amidst families, in workplaces and with friends. You, Christian, are set apart and sanctified
by the truth. You, Christian, are called
to live in faith and give answer for the hope that is within you.
19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified
in truth.
To consecrate means to sanctify, that is to make holy. But it doesn’t mean to make without sin, for
Jesus already is without sin. We can
consecrate people as well as things – like a new communion flagon – by setting
them apart for a special purpose.
Jesus consecrates himself, and is set apart as the
substitute for all mankind, in his perfect life and sacrificial death. He is therefore sanctified or consecrated for
us – for our sake. That we would be set
apart from the world, set apart in him, sanctified for an eternal inheritance
in Christ, consecrated by the truth of his word.
Thanks be to God for our great High Priest who not only
gives us the example of prayer, who not only forgives our sins and our lacking
and flawed prayers, but who also, even now, prays for us.
So Jesus prays, and so God the Father answers his
prayer.
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