Abide: The Word Keeps Us from Evil
Pastor Rollan Fisher
Focus: The Father’s words sanctify us and send us - away from evil and into mission.
Context
Christ Sanctifying Us
Christ Sending Us
John 17:6–21
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 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. 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. 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 do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them 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 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Context:
This week’s passage helps to conclude what is commonly known as the “farewell discourse” (John 14–17).
Last week’s discussion of “the true vine” was the middle section of this discourse.
This discourse occurs in John’s gospel immediately following the Last Supper, the night before his crucifixion just before his arrest.
Chapter 17 is the section of that discourse that takes the form of a prayer, and is often termed “the High Priestly Prayer,” (as it is labeled in the ESV and the NASB) but could also easily be titled “Christ’s Prayer for the Church.”
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the central component of Jesus’ prayers was the more private and painful acceptance of God’s will in the form of a cup of suffering.
There only Peter, James, and John appear to be close enough to hear his prayers.
In John’s gospel the central component of Jesus’ final prayers that are recorded happen before the garden, while he prays in front of all of the disciples.
In this way, this set of prayers takes on more of a teaching function and delivers doctrine along with the heartfelt cries of the Lord.
One of the central themes of the theological work of the gospel of John is “glory” or doxa and its intertwining with the Word (logos).
This theme is introduced as early as John 1:14 where we read “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Yet it runs throughout the gospel of John running as late as John 21:19 where Peter’s death is seen as a way of glorifying God.
This theme of glory and its interconnection with God’s word and revelation is an important component of Christ’s majestic prayer for the Church.
Another central theme to the book of John is drawn out in chapter 17—the contrast between the world and Christ, the world and Christ’s followers.
This theme is introduced in John 1:10–13 in that the Word came into the world, but the world did not recognize its own creator.
In chapter 17, this contrast is brought to a head in the prayer for Jesus’ disciples who “are not of the world” just as he is “not of the world.”
Love and unity are also featured significantly in the book of John and make their appearances in the high priestly prayer of chapter 17.
Christ desires the same unity in love between him and the Father to be present between him and his disciples.
This unity of love is presented as a central desire of the heart of Christ and a key requirement for the sanctification of the church.
In John’s gospel this prayer serves not only as the climax of the Farewell Discourse but also of his teaching to his disciples.
From this point on, the story unfolds the necessary fulfillment of the predictions of Christ’s suffering, and his teaching ministry as such has been completed.
The contrast between the world and Christ, between the glory of God and the evil of the world, is made even more clear in this climactic prayer.
In this prayer, Christ prays for unity, for glory, and for protection.
In the coming chapters, the world will divide (rather than unite), humiliate (rather than glorify), and destroy (rather than protect).
It is widely accepted that the gospel of John was written later than the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and that the author had some access to the gospels but felt free to write independently of them.
From this it may be hypothesized that John was being used to:
To address the needs of a different audience (particularly non-Jewish seekers),
To share elements of Christ’s person, teaching, and work that the other gospels did not present or emphasize, or
To present a more theological-oriented than biographical- or historically-oriented work.
Christ’s Sanctifying Us:
As we abide in God’s word, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us by that Word.
To sanctify us means to set us apart to look like Jesus and fulfill his glorious purposes.
When we abide in the word of God, we develop God’s heart - for Jesus, the things of the Kingdom and the people of this world that Christ came to save through his cross.
At the same time, what we know is that Jesus understands that it can be difficult to be faithful to him in a hostile world.
As we abide in God’s word, God keeps us from the evil that is in the world that is opposed to His word and is hostile to those who cling to that Word.
Jesus’ high priestly prayer teaches us at least three key principles to guide us in hostile times.
The Word of God is the only reliable source of strength when we face the rejection of the world (vv. 6– 10)
Christ reveals he needed the words the Father gave to him
There are schemes of the enemy (Satan) to discourage and dissuade you in your walk with God
Christ sees something we need to recognize: if we believe what he says and do what he commands, we will be hated.
The enemy will use that hatred to shake us.
Clue to the gospel: Rejection and hostility do not have to spiritually derail us. Sometimes greater resistance is a sign we are getting closer to the goal.
The enemy can only win if resistance causes us to: back down, give in, grow bitter, or change sides
Resolution: When we press through resistance with faithfulness to the Word, God’s victory is ensured.
If Christ needed the words of the Father, how much more do we?
Christ makes it clear that he gave those words to the disciples so that they would be preserved. i. If the apostles needed the words of Christ, how much more do we?
Philosophies change. Self-help gurus come and go. Governments rise and fall.
God’s Word remains the same.
God’s ways remain the same.
God’s mission remains the same.
The Words of Christ guide us when the presence of Christ is hidden. (vv. 11–13)
You need to spend time with God to be guided by his Word.
You need to internalize the Word so it goes with you through the day.
You need to search your life to find any area that is not surrendered to the Word.
John 17:19
“And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
Christ Sending Us:
The third thing that we discover is that as we abide in Christ’s word, he sanctifies us to send us on mission with him.
3. The world’s resistance is often a sign we are closer to the mission of the Word. (vv. 14–20)
Christianity’s missional effectiveness is dependent on a simple formula:
Surprising faithfulness to the Word
In the face of great difficulty
Surprising faithfulness + great difficulty = new belief in the word
What difficulty is God asking you to face with surprising faithfulness?
What would surprising faithfulness look like in the face of that difficulty?
What scriptures could guide you to stay faithful in that difficulty?
What should we do that our faith may not fail?
Rethink the rejection of the world as a sign that you are not of it, but are sent into it.
Prayerfully consider what kind of suffering might cause you to give in to the enemy.
Surrender those areas of potential missional sacrifice to God.
Have you been avoiding mission for fear of resistance?
The disciples did too— and they soon scattered.
When the disciples returned, Jesus strengthened them with the Spirit and the Word.
Response time: It’s time to get back on mission with Jesus.
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher