Consecrated in Truth
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John 17:6-19
6. "I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them to me, and they have kept thy word. 7. Now they know that everything that thou hast given me is from thee; 8. for I have given them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from thee; and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom thou hast given me, for they are thine; 10. all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name, which thou hast given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13. But now I am coming to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14. I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15. I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one. 16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17. Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. 18. As thou didst send 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 consecrated in truth.
These verses continue the “great priestly prayer.” Jesus begins this portion of the prayer for His disciples by acknowledging God’s divine choice in Jesus’ selection of each of the disciples. Jesus mentions the disciples’ acceptance of Jesus’ teachings, they knew with certainty who Jesus was, and they believed in Him and what He told them. Jesus also acknowledges that everything He (we) have, comes from God. My bible notes indicate this is the only time God is referred to by the title “Holy Father.” This name implies not only God’s remoteness and power in heaven, but His love and nearness to us.
While on earth, Christ’s power was enough to protect the apostles. In fact, his power is adequate to meet every one of our needs. But after His departure, they will face life without that physical presence. And they may be tempted to scatter—return back to their former lives. Jesus prays that they remain unified in the Truth, the truth to which they have been sanctified. They must now face a world that is hostile to Christ’s teachings on their own.
Jesus prays that God will continue to protect them as they continue the work they started under His direction and leadership. He doesn’t ask that they be taken out of the world, though (with Him), because our work (and theirs) is done here on earth—in the world. The worldly are the ones who need to hear the truth, and it is our commission to spread the truth to them—to everyone!
Jesus consecrated Himself through his death on the cross. And not only Himself, but also us, so that we can be in service to God, divinely protected and saved for His works. He died on the cross so we could be sanctified in the truth. And the truth will set us free! Free to live out our commission, taught, explained, demonstrated and obedient unto death for us—on behalf of all of us. We are to do God’s work in the world.
I hope you spend your day doing God’s service, empowered by your consecration in the truth.
Mary
