Elder Chew Chong Kiat

                                                                The Christian and the World (John 17)

John chapter 17 is commonly known as the High Priestly prayer of Christ our Saviour. The theme of the Christian and the world is very evident in this prayer. What is the Christian’s relationship with the world?

The Mission of Jesus (v1-8)

The Lord Jesus came to this world with a mission to give eternal life to whomever the Father has given Him (v2). They were the ones chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). Life eternal is to know the one true God and the Saviour Jesus Christ who was sent by God to give them eternal life (v3). After Jesus finished the work that was given him (v4), He prayed that the Father would glorify Him (v5). He set the pattern for us: Glory after faithful completion of God’s mission.

Jesus described those whom the Father had given Him as those that were "out of the world" (v6). They were saved out of the fallen humanity that was alienated from God, ungodly and hostile to God. But Jesus brought them nigh to God and they knew God and kept His words taught to them by Jesus (v6b, 8a). They knew and believed that Jesus was sent of the Father with all power to save them from this world (v8).

Jesus’s Prayer for the Chosen Ones (v9-13)

Very specifically, Jesus said that He prayed for those who were separated from the world to the Father (v9). Jesus was glorified in them (v10), they were the trophies of His redemptive work.
Jesus knew that His time in this world was up and He would return to the Father. But those taken "out of the world" (v6) would remain "in the world" (v11a). He prayed that the Father would keep them as one (v11b).
When Jesus was with them "in the world", He kept them and not one was lost (v12). But before He left this world to go to the Father, He wanted to pray this prayer in the presence of His disciples that they might know the will of God for them and have their joy fulfilled when they do the will of God (v13).

The Trials of Those Called Out of the World (v14-16)

Jesus said that the world would hate them. The reason was because they were "not of the world" like Jesus (v14, 16). They were called to suffer. Those "of the world" would hate them because they were in darkness and hated those who were in the light (Joh 3:24).

Yet, the Saviour, who loved them more than His own life, did not pray that the Father take them "out of the world" (v15). Why? Would not any parent do this the instant their child is in danger?

Instead He prayed that God would keep them from the evil (v15). Thus we are taught to pray in the Lord’s Prayer "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Mt 6:13)

The Mission of Those Called Out of the World (v17-26)

He also prayed that God would sanctify them with the truth of God (v17), so that they would know the will of God and to do it. They were not just called "out of the world" (v6), they must remain "in the world" (v11a) and to be "not of the world" (v14) to be "sent...into the world" (v18).

This meant that they were given a mission just as Christ was given one. Their mission was a continuation of the unfinished work of leading those whom the Father has chosen to come "out of the world". These were those whom Christ also prayed for: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (v20). Note the last two words "their word". They were given the words of reconciliation (2Cor 5:19) and were then sent on a mission to spread this same word of reconciliation to those in the world that they too may believe.

Jesus then prayed again for their sanctification and unity (v19-21) which were so critical. Unless they lived a life that was such a testimony to the rest in the world, no one would believe their words. The peace with one another was a consequence of the peace they had with God. Without peace with God, they could not have peace one with another. They must also not have unconfessed sin which would hinder their fellowship with God. They must also faithfully follow the words of Christ. Without these pre-requisites the church could not be united as one, to love one another with the love wherewith they were loved (v23, 26). Only then would the world believe that Christ was sent into this world (v25) to reconcile them to God.

Conclusion

The Mission of Jesus is accomplished. He has successfully called out of the world a band of faithful men through His words. And instead of taking them out of this world, He leaves them in this world and commands that they be not of this world. He sends them out into the world to continue the work of sharing the same words He shared.

They will experience trials and tribulations by those in the world but they must remain faithful unto death. These have a right relationship with the world. They are not conformed to the world. When they are in the world they stand out from the rest who are in the world because they do not have the mind of the world and their heart is not in this world. It is only when we are such that we can be effective for Jesus.

Can Jesus count on you to share these words of reconciliation through a right relationship with the world so that some whom our Father in heaven has ordained to life eternal will be called out of this present evil world? We must continue to fulfil the Great commission till the return of the Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.