Manifested love, Pt 33: Sanctify them
John 17:13-19 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. 14I 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. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Full measure of my joy
v13 is profound in both its simplicity and majesty. Jesus is in the midst of his High Priestly Prayer and yet nonetheless is speaking by inference to his disciples. Many theologians believe Jesus was praying while with his disciples and that they heard every word of the prayer. If so, this verse would have reminded them of his words earlier that evening (15:11). The profoundness of that earlier verse was that the disciples, and indeed all believers, are made welcome into the mutual love that has existed between Father and Son since the beginning of time. And, to add joy upon joy, he prays that the Father fully manifest that joy in their hearts. As I imagine myself in that room, hearing this prayer, I can’t avoid remembering those times I have heard God speak. Believer, that God, who created everything we see, and everything we don’t, yet speaks to us is a joy which is only barely describable. Search it out! Read the word, pray, seek his presence! You will find the experience so worthwhile that you will never allow yourself to be without it.
Not of the world, but in the world
There is a movement within some parts of the believing world to remove one’s self from society by cloistering within the walls of a monastery or convert for the purpose of dedicating one’s life to God. The idea was to remove one’s self from the temptations of the world. This of course did not work because sin, after all, doesn’t come from the outside. It arises inside the human heart.
Jesus is teaching the opposite in v14-16. The modern expression of this is, “We are in the world, but not of the world” which means we are alive and so live on the planet, but we don’t accept the world’s way of doing things. But Jesus also prays that we be protected from Satan. This doesn’t mean that we will not have struggles, disease, or death (all that happens to everyone), but that we won’t turn to the Evil One. After all, how is the message of redemption to be transmitted throughout the world unless believers can speak it out? But do not misunderstand: Trouble will come to those who name the Name. Satan and his principalities and powers hate the name of Jesus and will do everything they can to stop him.
I send them into the world
It is to the world that all believers must bring the Good News. Jesus said it himself,
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Remember, the world is hostile territory; it was for the disciples and remains so for us. Although God created the world and therefore owns it, Satan nonetheless moved in to usurp God’s ownership at the moment of Adam’s sin. Satan will do anything to protect his position, and although we know he ultimately loses, there is significant risk associated with proclaiming God’s word. First, there is abundant temptation associated with being in the world. To resist that temptation, a believer must be sanctified inside. They must be consecrated, that is, they must be anointed for the task of bringing the Good News to the nations. There are certain people with special ability in this area; they are called evangelists. But every believer is set apart by his faith to tell the world about Jesus.
Second, believers will be hated simply because they are different. We probably all know of those prominent preachers or evangelists who have fallen from grace. These people are no threat to Satan; he has deceived them in some way and removed them from the arena. But the rest of us—we small, rather insignificant people, who live our lives as best we can in faithful obedience to Jesus—we are the real threat to the Beast of Babylon. We are different: We try to avoid obvious areas of sin like sexual sin and addictions, and when we fail we repent and seek God’s forgiveness. These are the real threats to Satan because people notice and are drawn to our kind of life. And away from his.
Third, we are invading Satan’s territory. He will attack, set traps, and deceive. We must be fully prayed up to avoid such things.
What about me?
Believer, you probably think of yourself as an unimportant person, of no continuing use to God. I apologize if I am too direct, but that is entirely wrong. There are 2.2 billion believers in Jesus out of 8 billion, so 27.5% believers in Jesus. One might think that is so poor a showing that we should do every possible big thing to advance the Gospel. That also is wrong. There is only one thing that has consistent, long lasting results in bringing Jesus to the world. That is the slow, steady, dedicated growth in Christ that comes from full obedience to him.
Christ doesn’t want the ‘next big thing’. He wants your heart, and my heart. He wants us as persons; as individuals. We think we have to do things; have an event at the mall; stock food banks; have regional meetings. All of these things are good in their arena, but they say nothing about the hearts of the people involved. So you love Christ? Good. So you want others to love him too? Also good. The way to increase the love for Jesus is too change your life. That is what will change the life of another. Avoid the obvious traps. Love unconditionally. Treat well every person you meet. These are the things God wants to see in your life, not whether or not you attended the last rally.