Title of Jesus for unity and holiness...
Contents When have you ever glorified God?
Text Commentary/ As the time for Jesus to leave the world and return to the Father drew near, Jesus' attention naturally focused on the dangers to his disciples who remain in a desolate world. After the Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus would send another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, through the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and would continue to protect and guide His disciples in the Holy Spirit. But now, between death and ascension, Jesus had to entrust his disciples only to God the Father. So Jesus prayed two things earnestly for his disciples. It is the unity and holiness of the disciples.
Question 1: What did Jesus pray for his disciples? (Verses 11-13, 15)
Answer: (1) Twice Jesus prayed to the Father to preserve his disciples (verses 11 and 15). The only means of protection is the name of God. Jesus especially prayed for the disciples who would be destroyed (verse 12). Since Jesus must not lose even a single soul, he did not use the expression that he had lost it, and said that he was only a child of perdition, which was referring to Judas Iscariot, who eventually betrayed Jesus. The deep meaning of these words is that of the twelve, only Judas Iscariot was a child of perdition from the beginning.
(2) Jesus prayed that his disciples would be preserved from evil (verse 15).
⑶ What was the purpose of Jesus' intercession to preserve his disciples? First, there is a purpose for the disciples to become one, just as the Father and the Son are one (verse 11). Second, it is to give you joy according to God's protection (verse 13).
Question 2: What is the background of Jesus' prayer for the preservation of his disciples? (verses 14-18)
Answer: (1) Because the disciples are hated by the world because they do not belong to the world (verse 14). The disciples are “the people of God called out of the world” (verses 14, 16). Disciples chosen by Jesus into the world are those who are united with Jesus. Therefore, the persecution suffered by Jesus, who lived separate from the world, appears as hatred and persecution even for the disciples who are not of the world.
(2) This is because Jesus entrusted the work of God to His disciples and sent them out (verse 18).
Question 3: What did Jesus also pray for? (verses 17, 19)
Answer: (1) Jesus prayed that His disciples would be holy. Holiness is the character of a Christian who has the Holy Spirit. It is the Word of God that sanctifies the disciples. When the word of God comes, we become sanctified from the world. Praying under the guidance of the Holy Spirit sanctifies the one who prays.
(2) Jesus sanctifies himself in order to sanctify his disciples (verse 19). Holiness is the absolute coordinate where a holy God can lead this world (Leviticus 11:45). Jesus sanctified himself by dying an atoning death at the same time as he died.
Question 4: What did Jesus pray for his disciples? (verses 20-26)
Answer: (1) Jesus prays not only for his disciples, but for all who believe (verse 20).
(2) The standard of unity is in the Triune God (verse 21). The characteristic of unity is first revealed in the unity of the Father and the Son (v. 21a). In verse 21, 'let it be in us' means that the Father and the Son also come in us, make their dwelling place, and be with us. This is also characteristic of Immanuel. We have a promise to be with the Lord forever. But that is the life with the Triune God. So we can see how great it is to be one with the Lord.
⑶ What is the purpose of unity? (verses 21b, 23) First, it is to testify of the gospel to the world (verse 21b). Second, it is to reveal the glory of God (verse 22). Thus, the disciples will see eternal glory in the presence of the Father and the Son, when Christ will manifest in the world the glory obtained by His crucifixion (v. 24). Third, third, for the world to know God's love (verses 25-26). The spiritual ignorance of the world is pointed out in two ways. One is ignorance of the Father and the other is ignorance of the fact that the Father has sent the Son (verse 25). So Jesus worked hard to make God's name known ( verse 26).
Decision message:
Christians should strive to become one in the church community. Because the church is the body of Christ, and Christians are members whose head is Jesus Christ. We must love each other and never lose our unity with each other. To that end, I hope that you will devote yourself to the Word and prayer life to become holy saints.