John 17.Jesus' High Priestly Prayer

John 17:13-19

But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.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. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 Just as You sent Me into the world, I

Also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, 1 John 3:13. If the world hates you. Returning to the Father, Jesus continues in prayer on behalf of His disciples, that they may be filled with joy, V.13. Jesus prays that they be kept holy (consecrated, separate in devotion, and identified). He prays that, despite being hated by the world, they be protected from Satan, being of His kingdom, not of the world. The Scriptures record how Jesus confronted and rejected Satan. The disciples of Jesus, being in, but not of the world, must be watchful of worldly, lascivious living (1 John 2:15-16).

Keep them away from the evil one, v.15. And for their sakes, I sanctify Myself, so that they also may be sanctified in the truth; Your word is truth. The World of Medieval art and literature has presented a comical or grotesque Devil of myth or a superstar.  The Holy Bible, however, reveals the truth regarding Satan.  We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. (1 John 5:19).

In the Bible, Jesus speaks of Satan: But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, for you are setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s” (Matthew 16:23).

Jesus was tempted by Satan for forty days, being tempted by the devil. (Luke 4:2). And when the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until on apportune time (Luke 4:13). Then Jesus said to him. “Go away, Satan! For it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:10).

Jesus preached about Satan:  And He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning (Luke 10:18). Satan/devil, evil one, Adversary of God and God’s people: Existence, Personality, Role. By this, the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious (1 John 3:10).  We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19.  Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13).

The challenge to Christian living is to avoid the world, the flesh, the devil: “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16).

“We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).  Believers CANNOT overcome in their strength, least of all when doubting the WORD. “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). “For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith” (1 John 5:4). THUS IS THE PRAYER OF JESUS ANSWERED.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN ‘ BE LOVED” THE WAY OF MY GOD

A Commentary

          Laurence Wed-Chung Wedderburn