“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. 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. 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. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (John 17:12-18, NIV).
There was a friend, who told me before that whenever he left their house, in order for his little children not to cry he would give them some coins.
In my case, when I was still a small child, my father would leave our cat beside me while I was sleeping, so when I woke up I would not cry to find out that he was already gone and had already left for work.
Did you also experience to receive or to have something from someone who was about to leave you? Or, have you experienced giving something to someone you left behind?
Before Jesus was arrested, suffered and died on the cross, He also left His disciples with things to comfort or to occupy them, so they would not feel empty as He left them.
And those things were not only intended for them, but also for all true believers. So, if we consider ourselves followers of Christ, we ought to realize that our hands are actually full, so to speak, of the same worthy things He had left to His original disciples.
Let us not dwell on the things we do not have, or what we lost, but let us cherish THE SIGNIFICANT THINGS GIVEN BY CHRIST, as we study our text in John 17:12-18.
True followers of Christ are not empty handed. Truly, we have so many precious things in our life. And they are truly significant. So, what are some of them?
Before we proceed, let’s realize that the text was part of the prayer of Jesus in the whole chapter of John 17. It was recorded by the Apostle John, who described himself five times in his writing as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7 & 20). Jesus prayed it in the hearing of His disciples, so John was able really to take note of it.
He prayed it after He and His disciples partook the last supper during the Passover. And before they arrived at the garden across the Kidron Valley, wherein Jesus again prayed, but privately and with such well known line, “…not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
And as Jesus prayed in John 17, Judas was no longer with them for he already went on his way to betray Jesus.
In verses 1 to 5, Jesus prayed for Himself. But, starting verse 6, He prayed for His disciples, though it included all the other believers in succeeding ages, as He mentioned in verse 20.
And in our text, we note that we have at least three significant things from Jesus. What are those?
First, HIS ASSURANCE OF PROTECTION (verse 12).
We read in verse 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.”
Jesus pointed out in His prayer that He was able to protect all His true followers (Judas was not a true follower). And none of them could be lost spiritually. There was a great weight in His testimony to protect, because He was not just telling His disciples, but He was testifying to God the Father.
And now that He was about to leave them, He gave them His assurance that their spiritual safety was secured. Besides, He entrusted them to God the Father Himself. We read in verse 15, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
That could give them, while they were in their ministry later, the boldness to preach on God’s word even in dangerous situations, or suffer harsh words or threats from others. For they knew that even death could not really harm them. What was important for them was the assurance of spiritual safety.
Of course, true believers, today, should guard themselves from both physical and spiritual danger. They should not expose themselves to life threatening situations, or even false doctrines that could affect their spiritual health.
But because of our human imperfections, we could still suffer physically, emotionally, or spiritually. God could allow us even to suffer death because of our own error or others fault. Thankfully, we can be certain that our spiritual life is safe in the Hands of our Savior.
Thus, no matter what trouble a follower of Christ is going through, or what grievous assault he would suffer, he could confidently say: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Ps. 23:6).
He has Jesus’s assurance of protection.
How about you, once young or young ones in the church – are you bothered or troubled by anything that you don’t have, or with what you don’t have anymore?
Are you even apprehensive of spiritual fiery dart thrown at you?
Is your honor or reputation, financial or emotional or spiritual stability under attack? Do not fear. Press on. Keep on following our Shepherd, whether in green pastures, in serene waters, or even in the valley of the shadow of death.
He is able to protect us. He is praying for our safety even against the evil one.
Though we are weak, or we lack many things, or we are threatened at every side, yet we have the assurance of protection from our Sovereign Lord.
As Paul wrote, “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5).
What is the next significant thing that we have from Jesus?
Second, HIS WORD OF TRUTH (verse 13-14).
We read in verse 13-14, “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. 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.”
Jesus knew the sorrow that His disciples would suffer after He left them by dying on the cross. And they would also be hated by the people in the world. So what did they need to counter such negative feeling?
Jesus wanted for them to have something that could not be taken away from them to sustain their joy. He gave them His Word, which could give them not only an ordinary kind of joy. His Word would enable them to experience the joy that He Himself had. They would be able not just to have a portion of His joy, but the “full measure” of His joy.
Not only that. But only through His Word they could learn truthfully to live a sanctified Christian life. Jesus told His Father, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
A follower of Christ, today, should realize the great value of God’s Word that he has. It’s not only for him to have a holy life. But also to have a joyful life. In the English Standard Version, Jesus told His disciples in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
The Psalmist also declared, “I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil” (Ps. 119:162, ESV). Also, “I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word” (verse 16). And, “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart” (verse 111).
One should realize, then, that the Bible – the Word of God – is not a “dry, dull, or barren” book of do’s and don’ts. It’s far different from that. It’s the Book of Life – a life of adventure, action, affection and joy in the midst of affliction.
It contains not just the story about Moses, Joseph, Samson, David, Jonah, Paul, etc. But it makes known through its pages the Unseen, yet Living and Sovereign God, who created not only the physical universe, but everything, including the circumstances, events in the world and even pleasing thoughts in the mind for the glory of His Name and for the joy of His people!
If true believers, then, are tempted that they have missed or deprived of something exciting, thrilling, or joyful in this world, they should realize they have the written Word of Truth – the Word of God.
How about us in the church – do we really realize and treasure what we have – the Word of God? Do we pattern our life in it and really find joy in it?
There were two Generals, who spoke in the First Albay Conference of Bless Our Cops Movement (group of Christian men in military service) last March 2 in Camp Simeon Ola. One General asked if those who were present have a copy of the Bible. And if they didn't have, he encouraged them, including the different Chiefs of police in Albay, to download a Bible application in their cellphone. And read it regularly.
How about us – do we also read it regularly? Have we finished reading it from Genesis to Revelation? If we have done it, are we reading it again... and again? Read it meditatively, as our Senior Pastor once said. And as mentioned in Psalm, meditate on God’s Word day and night. Further, the Psalmist declared, “It is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97B). Also, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation” (verse 99). And, “My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise” (Ps. 119:148, ESV).
If we experience the full measure of Jesus’s joy in His Word, we’ll strive to finish reading it again and again. We will meditate in it day and night. We will be motivated to memorize a big chunk of it. We will be excited to attend the worship service to hear His Word rightly expounded. We will not allow the temporary joy of this world to prevent us to join the group study or engage in the personal study of the Word.
We will be thrilled to be drenched with the joy of God’s Word. We will not be content that it will just drizzle on us.
And, finally, what is the significant thing we have from Jesus?
Third, HIS GLORIOUS MISSION (verse 18).
We read in verse 18, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”
Jesus did not mean that His followers should also suffer and die on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. Jesus already did it. But, what was common between Jesus and His followers is that they were sent into the world of unbelievers.
If we jump to verse 19, there was an implication that Jesus sent His followers to echo His message to the people in the world, in order that they – those people given by the Father to the Son who were still unbelievers -- would also hear God’s Word and believe.
And that was also included in the mission or work of Jesus, that according to Him in verse 4, brought the Father glory on earth.
Believers, today, have that mission from the Captain of our Salvation, Jesus Christ. He said in Luke 4:43, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
The citizens of the Kingdom should also proclaim the good news – the Good Message of their King – in the world of many unbelievers.
And they should be motivated to do so, because it’s a mission order from their Loving Savior and Glorious King. The command did not just come from a General, not just from an ordinary king. But from the King of kings.
Also, they should be motivated to share the gospel to others, for there are others whom God will certainly give to the Son, they will receive the Word, know the Truth and ultimately will also believe. They will also become citizens of the Kingdom – become children of God.
Further, they should be motivated to sow the Word of Truth in the world, for it will bring glory to the Heavenly Father. No greater mission or work than to proclaim both the Personal Word, Jesus, and His written Word to the unbelievers that will bring Glory to the Living God.
How about us in the church – do we have the glimpse of the glory of sharing the gospel, or sowing the Word, or proclaiming both the Personal and the written Word to the world? Or, do we have the tendency to promote more the glory of our personal earthly accomplishment or ambition? Or, do we proclaim more the excitement or attraction that prevails in this world?
Or, do we succumb to the temptation of broadcasting the shortcomings or moral or ethical defects of a particular person?
Or, do we just project our inactivity or indifference to accomplish the mission that our Commander had entrusted us?
Be it not so.
We ought to be so motivated in accomplishing our mission.
Aside from the motivations we realized earlier, we could also share the Word or the Gospel in spite of difficult situations or oppositions, because we have the assurance of protection from our Lord. And as we delight or rejoice in the Word of Truth that we have, we want others to experience also the “full measure” of the joy of Jesus.
And we are so familiar with these words of Christ, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” We would be more blessed or happy if we could give not only physical or material things. But, if we give both the Personal and written Word to others.
So, we ought to be bursting forth with excitement in fulfilling the mission that we have.
CONCLUSION:
Not all the followers of Christ have many or abundant material possessions. Not many of them have the opportunity to have the privilege to enjoy the pleasure or leisure in this world. Not many have the chance to enjoy earthly accomplishment.
But all His true followers have His assurance of spiritual protection, have His Word of Truth and have His Glorious Mission.
Let us just make sure that we are really given by the Father to the Son, so, we received the Word with joy, we realized the Truth and we really believed in Jesus. Let us make sure that our belief did not just “originate” from our own free will. But it was given to us by God. So, not only we really believe in Jesus, but we love to follow Him. Thus, we love that we have His assurance of protection; we love to have His Word of Truth; and we love to have His Glorious Mission to accomplish.
