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Safeguarded & Set Apart (Part One)

January 12, 2025 Preacher: Jeff Griffis Series: Communion in Christ's Love

Scripture: John 17:11–16

Safeguarded & Set Apart – John 17:11b–16

PRAY & INTRO: When Jesus prays for his Apostles, how does that apply to us? The middle section of the prayer in John 17 is a prayer for his disciples who are in his presence, who have lived his public ministry by his side, who have just received the departure discourse of John 13-16 on this very night, and who will scatter only hours in the future when he is arrested in Gethsemane. But they are also those who will see him after the resurrection and be the ones who establish the foundation of Christ’s church after his ascension.

It is a right distinction to realize that the Apostles were Apostles with a capital “A” and we are not. There are, therefore, things that were true of them that are not true of us.

But it is a false dichotomy to think that they were saved any differently than we are saved, or even to think that we are not also, through saving faith, safeguarded by God and consecrated unto the mission of being Christ’s sent ones. (which is what we see here in Christ’s petitions for them in verses 11b-19)

The point is, although there are some things that apply only to them, most things Jesus teaches applies first to them but then also to us. Just so, even as we did last week in the first half of this middle section, we will take the spirit of what Christ prays for them specifically and apply it to ourselves, who are also safeguarded in Christ, who are also his sent ones.

If you weren’t here last week, or just need a quick refresher in your memory, here’s what we discussed:

Take comfort and courage from Christ’s prayer for his disciples. (Jn 17:6-19)

After praying for mutual glorification in the Godhead through what he will accomplish by his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection (vv. 1-5), Jesus prays for them (vv. 6-8), for these disciples to whom he has already savingly manifested God and thus they have responded rightly in faith, who have “kept your word” in the sense of knowing that the words of Christ are eternal life because he is the Holy One of God (see also Jn 6:68-69).

He prays for them and not for the world because (#1) “they are yours” (v. 9). Through Christ, God has chosen them out of the world to belong to Him, to be his children through faith in Jesus, to be the people of his covenant love. (#2) He prays for them because it is these ones whom Christ saves who bring him glory (v. 10). And finally, he prays for them because he will no longer be physically present with them (11a).

And from this reality of his impending departure spring the particular petitions on behalf of his disciples, beginning at v. 11b. In verses 11-19, Jesus prays for his disciples’ protection and sanctification (understood here primarily as consecration for service, to be sent on his mission). 

First, Jesus prays for the protection of those whom the Father has given him, so that they may be united in covenant love and purpose.

John 17:11–12 ESV

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.

Like these Apostles for whom Jesus prays…
We who are in Christ are being safeguarded by God, for unity in his familial love and common mission. (verses 11b-12)

Jesus opens these petitions with an address to God as “Holy Father”… which at once communicates the awe-inspiring transcendence of God and combines it with familial intimacy. He is holy, he is other, there is no one like God. And yet with Jesus, who is the Son of God incarnate, he is “my” Father. There is a familiarity of familial intimacy that is offensive if you don’t believe Jesus is God (as it was to the Jewish religious leaders who wouldn’t receive Jesus as their Messiah), but when you know him as he is, there is such comfort and courage knowing that the one true and eternal Son of God has made us also to be sons and daughters of God with him. And by the Spirit whom he has given us, we too can pray, “Abba, Father.” (Gal 4:6)

Jesus’ prayer for God to keep them in his name is explained on the basis of his impending departure, even as he gives an account for having kept them, having guarded them, these ones whom the Father has given him. (in contrast to Judas)

But his prayer is that the Father keep them in his name “that they may be one even as we are one.” What kind of unity, of being one, can this refer to, in which the disciples and all future disciples (see vv. 20-23) are united with one another and united with God—Father, Son, & Spirit. We know from Scripture that this unity, this oneness, this sense of us being in him and He in us, is in no way ontological—it is not about the nature of our being. We are not humans who are being deified, turning into gods. No, there is only one God and he is holy, he is other, he is unique.

So the sense of unity described here, which is seen in both this section of the prayer and the next, as well from the overall context of the departure discourse… the oneness described here is to be united in his covenant love and his covenant purposes. We come to share in the familial love of God and in his mission of glorifying himself by making a people for his own possession who relate rightly to him in faith, a faith which now centers in the Lordship and accomplishment of Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, these ones whom Jesus has kept, he sets in contrast to Judas, who was lost, not because he belonged to Jesus and Jesus was unable to keep him, but because he was the son of destruction, who did not truly belong, who fulfills Scripture regarding one who betrays. He seemed to be a friend of Jesus, but he was a betrayer.

From the context of the discourse, we know that one of the Scripture passages fulfilled in Judas is certainly Ps 41:9

Psalm 41:9 ESV

9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

In John 13:18, in the context of Jesus washing the disciples feet at the beginning of this discourse, when Judas was still present, Jesus said,

John 13:16–18 ESV

16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’

Not only was Judas fulfilling the Scripture, but he was not a true follower of Jesus, nor his true messenger. So Judas followed his nature, and of his own will he committed treason against Jesus, which is as we all are and as we all do apart from the mercy and grace of God: we are sons “of destruction.” Immediately after Jesus gives him the morsel of bread, Judas departs the upper room to betray Jesus.

Then everything that follows in the departure discourse and prayer does not apply to Judas, from the new commandment of love to the promise of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to this prayer of protection and consecration. - Judas’s choice is sealed, but perhaps you still have opportunity to not harden your heart and instead to respond in faith to God by submitting to the Lord Jesus.

By contrast to Judas, who was not a true disciple, Jesus proves the protection of those whom he has chosen, who are truly his. And to these ones specifically he fulfills the promise again in the Garden of Gethsemane, which John is eager to note as fulfillment of this prayer.

John 18:8–9 ESV

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

[subtitle slide] But right at this point Jesus prays for their safekeeping in his absence, the safekeeping of those who are truly his, which would apply to us as well as to these disciples. Again, note the connection of this protection to their unity in covenant love and purpose, a unity that is shared with all disciples in the next section.

Ok, now it is at v. 13 where we come to the result of joy for those who know they now know God and have gained eternal life in Christ Jesus.

John 17:13–14 ESV

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.

Jesus’ prayer of protection reassures us that we can have his joy as we serve him in the midst of hostility from the world. (verses 13-14)

Again, since Jesus is returning to glory with Father, says he speaks these things in the world that they may have his joy made full in themselves. These things he speaks in the world most likely refers to not only this prayer but also to all of discourse of this night.

That would mean that his joy fulfilled in the will result from at least these three things that he has stated specifically: 1. The joy of ultimate protection in the face of hostility and suffering, 2. The joy of witnessing the resurrection, and 3. the joy of knowing we abide in Christ through our obedience to him.

First, the joy of Jesus here is one of knowing ultimate protection in God’s care. This is the joy of entrusting himself to the Father while doing his will, the joy of knowing that what he suffers accomplishes God’s purpose and brings Him glory.

He faces the hostility of the world and even great suffering, knowing the ultimate outcome is secured in the perfect plan of the Father. That the joy of protection, the joy of security in right relationship to God.

They can have this joy because they have received and kept this word he has given them. The case can be made in John that when Jesus refers to word in the singular, it is directly tied to the gospel message, revealed in himself as the only restoration to God. They have the joy of ultimate protection as they face suffering and the world’s hatred because they have received the gospel and are no longer of this world.

Second, he promised these disciples that their sorrow from his suffering would turn to joy at the resurrection.

In ch. 16 Jesus told them that, although they would have great sorrow because of his suffering and affliction leading to his death, when he shows himself to them after the resurrection, they will have an unassailable joy.

John 16:22 ESV

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

And so even as Jesus ascended again into heaven, these disciples were filled with his joy in the assurance of his resurrection. - Does not the joy of Christ in his victorious resurrection apply to giving us fullness of joy also? Doesn’t anyone who truly desires to discredit belief in Jesus try to discredit the resurrection? But the entirety of Christianity is predicated on the certainty of Christ’s resurrection. And because we have come to have his resurrection life in us, we are full of joy… even in the face of hostility and suffering, because this suffering is temporary, and we await with hope a final resurrection.

Finally, Jesus had promised them his fullness of joy realized in them through their obedience to his commands and abiding in him, who is the true vine.

John 15:10–11 ESV

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

There is a correlation here where the obedience is produced by abiding in him, and then also the sincere obedience is evidence to us that we do abide in his love. And it is that certainty that we abide in God’s love that produces in us a fullness of joy.

[subtitle slide] We too can have Christ’s joy fulfilled in us when we live in the certainty of these three things: We can experience the daily joy of knowing we abide in God’s love as we walk in obedience to him. And we live by the certainty that his resurrection confirms his identity and promises, which means we too will enjoy a final resurrection of perfect restoration to God. And through faith in Jesus we live in the certainty of God’s ultimate protection because we have received his word and are not of this world but belong to him.

And speaking of this ultimate protection, there is further assurance in Christ’s prayer, in vv. 15&16, that they will not be lost to the evil one because they belong to Christ and not to the world.

John 17:15–16 ESV

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.

Jesus’ prayer of protection ensures that our belonging to him means ultimate security from the evil one while we remain in the world. (verses 15-16)

Jesus doesn’t pray that they be taken out of the world. Instead, since they will yet remain in the world for now to continue his ministry, they therefore will need continued protection from the evil one, who prowls around looking for someone to devour, who desires to snatch away the so-called faith of those who do not truly comprehend the gospel when the word of God is sown to them. (That’s from the parable of the soils.)

But to those who truly receive him savingly, with neither shallow proclamation nor continued love of the world, but know they are in him because they are producing his crop, his fruit… those know with certainty that God is keeping them safe from the evil one causing them to fall away.

In spite of the world’s hostility towards us who truly obey and follow Christ, we know the joy of no longer being of the world, and the joy of God’s protection of our salvation from the evil one.

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (Jesus says in v. 16). Jesus was never of the world but entered the world. We remain in the world but have been transformed so we are no longer of the world. If this is true of us, then Satan no longer holds ultimate sway over us. God has made us his own, and he will keep us, because we are his. Whatever harm and havoc and hindrance God may permit the devil to unleash against God’s people, we can know for certain that God is in fact proving our faith and demonstrating that Satan does not have dominion over those who belong to God. 

We are safeguarded in God’s covenant love and protected from any ultimate victory of the evil one. In fact, his defeat has been assured. Instead, we live confidently in God’s care and seek to grow in holiness, proving God defeat of the devil, even in our daily lives. 

Conclusion: How does God’s safekeeping impact your life and prayers?

From contemplating this part of Christ’s prayer for his disciples, do you have the comfort and courage of God’s protection of his own?

The disciples would look back on this prayer and know the comfort and joy of protection by God while in the world, and of preparation to serve him in the world. The same is true for us!

Do you know the joy of security in Christ?

The world experiences levels of enjoyment, but each of us lacks true joy until we know God through faith in Jesus. And we realize, we experience that joy more and more fully through obedience to Christ, through abiding in him and seeing him bear his fruit in us.

Finally, can we also pray for the unity of joy in knowing the safekeeping care of God? And how does this shape our prayers for protection?

 

PRAY

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More in Communion in Christ's Love

January 26, 2025

United with Christ in God’s Love & Mission

January 19, 2025

Safeguarded & Set Apart (Part 2)

January 5, 2025

The Comfort of Having Christ’s Prayer