“I have sanctified Your name to the men whom You have given out of the world. They were Yours. You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word…I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours…Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” -John 17:6, 9, 17-19 (NKJV).
Jesus continues His “High Priestly Prayer” in John 17. He prayed first for Himself in verses 1-5. In verses 6-19 he prayed for His disciples. John, who calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved” would have heard this impassioned prayer. Later, under the Holy Spirit’s direction, he wrote it as part of his gospel, and thus we have these words of Jesus, His prayer for his beloved disciples. With the major confusion and catastrophe of Jesus’ impending crucifixion, and the subsequent resurrection, commissioning, and ascension, then the disciples’ regrouping to begin the church of the Living Lord, this prayer becomes immeasurably significant in covering what the disciples will need as they face the calling to which they have been sanctified (set apart).
Jesus prayed that they might be “sanctified.” The basic meaning is to be made holy, to be changed, to be set apart for a special service. And, as a thing or a person set apart, comes the strong idea of standing in awe of someone or some thing. The disciples belonged to Almighty God. They were called out by Him, given to Jesus for special training, set apart for special service. Sanctification is a continuing process. From their initial calling and being set apart, they will continue to be sanctified through the Word. And those sanctified have a special purpose. “As you have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” Christ could see and know that the mission of the disciples would be one requiring all the consecration they could muster. This high priestly prayer of Christ on their behalf covers the needs of their apostolic (sent out) office. He prays that they will be endowed with divine illumination, wisdom and strength for their assigned work.
Even though the way will be hard for the disciples, and they will need to be fortified and endued with power from the Father, in verse 13 Jesus prays that they will have His joy fulfilled in themselves. This “joy unspeakable and full of glory” is not dependent on circumstances but on relationship. Because of the love of the Father and the Son, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the disciples would know the joy of sanctification (being set apart, holy) for the service whereunto they were called. Jesus prayed that they be kept from ‘the evil one.” He was well aware of temptations they would face, and the need to resist Satan. They are sent into the world, they are not of the world, the world will hate them, but because they are sanctified and have a special calling and purpose, they will, as Jesus, be “Overcomers.” Imagine how many times the disciples in the years to come would remember this prayer of Jesus for them—and see its fulfillment! We read wonderful accounts of their faithfulness, both in scripture and in early church history. Thanks be to God.
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