John 17:6-19
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus mentions the world in His High Priestly Prayer for His Disciples, I believe ten times...In Jesus' High Priestly Prayer for His disciples we see the distinct separation between "the world" and the disciples who follow Him...In John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples, acknowledging their unique position as those "given" to Him by the Father (v. 6)...He emphasizes that they are "not of the world" (v. 14), meaning their values, priorities, and ultimate allegiance are not aligned with the world's system...The "world," in this context, represents the prevailing values and systems that oppose God's Kingdom: materialism, wealth, fame, power, being self-seeking, and a focus on earthly pleasures...It's a realm dominated by sin and a separation from God...By stating "I AM not of the world," Jesus underscores the radical nature of His discipleship...True followers of Christ are called to live a life that reflects the values of the Kingdom of God – love, humility, forgiveness, service, mercy toward others, loving your neighbors and enemies, and a focus on eternal realities...This often involves resisting the pressures and temptations of the world, choosing to prioritize spiritual and holy values over worldly gain...Jesus' prayer for His disciples reflects this reality...He prays for their protection from "the evil one" (v. 15), acknowledging the spiritual battle they will face as they navigate a world that often opposes the values of the Gospel...He emphasizes the importance of sanctification – being set apart for God's purposes – through God's Truth, and His Truth...
In reading about this world and what Jesus teaches about our world, I see the radical nature of His Good News...Jesus challenges us in following what He teaches and the way He lived His Life in this world...The challenges we face are to live our lives like He lived, and to follow His Teachings as best we can...And that is challenging nature of the Jesus Gospel...It demands a radical shift in perspective and lifestyle and the way we see this world and His Kingdom...This requires us to reject the values and priorities of the world...By trying to following Him, we easily see the cost of being one of His disciples...Following Jesus often involves significant personal cost...It may require us to make sacrifices, to confront societal norms, and to embrace a counter-cultural lifestyle...
By following His Ways, His Truths and His Life, we address the disconnect between professed faith and a lived experience...Many people claim to be Christians but fail to live out the Gospel in their daily lives and their daily decisions in this world...As G. K. Chesterton said it is hard and tough to follow Jesus...Our actions often contradict our professed beliefs, revealing just how difficult His Teachings are to follow...As Chesterton put it: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting...It has been found difficult; and left untried.”...
Jesus critiqued this pursuit of worldly values in the above verses...He rightly points out in almost all of His Teachings that the pursuit of wealth, power, and fame often clash with the Gospel's emphasis on humility, forgiveness, service, and love for others...While the world can certainly exert a negative influence on our lives, it's important to acknowledge that God created the world and that many good and beautiful things exist within His Creation...The Gospel calls us to live in the world, but not to be of the world, meaning to resist the way this world’s corrupting influences our ideas and thoughts and ways, while engaging with it in a humble, meaningful, helping others, being generous to others, and living a redemptive way...
There is an importance in God’s Grace and an ongoing transformation...The Christian life is a journey of ongoing growth and transformation...We all fall short of God's Glory, and genuine discipleship involves a lifelong process of repentance, forgiveness, helping others, and striving to live more fully in accordance with Jesus and His Gospel...
Jesus taught about the danger of self-righteousness...While it's important to recognize the demands of discipleship, it's crucial to avoid self-righteousness and judgmentalism and criticism...We are all sinners in need of God's Grace, and we should approach others with compassion and understanding...
Reflection on Jesus' Teachings offers a thought-provoking and challenging perspective on the radical nature of the Gospel call...It highlights the importance of living out our faith in tangible ways and resisting the allure of worldly values...We all should be encouraged by Jesus’ Teachings and to continue exploring His Teachings to deepen our understanding of the Gospel and its implications for our lives and the world around us...
Jesus, in His High Priestly prayer, acknowledges the challenges His disciples will face in a world that often opposes the values of the Kingdom...He reminds them that they are 'not of the world,' highlighting the narrow path of discipleship...An understanding of "the world" as John writes about provides valuable insights into the Christian life...It challenges us to examine our own values and priorities, to resist the allure of worldly temptations, and to live as ambassadors of God's Kingdom in a world that often seems to have forgotten its true purpose...Jesus, in this High Priestly Prayer, acknowledges the challenges His disciples will face in a world that often opposes the values of His Kingdom...He reminds them that they are 'not of the world,' highlighting the narrow path of discipleship...The road to God's Kingdom is a narrow one, while the roads of this world are wide and often destructive...Following Jesus requires us to make difficult choices, to resist the allure of worldly temptations, and to embrace a life of service and sacrifice...These passages tell us why He Teaches: "Enter through the narrow gate...For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it...But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."...