With Dale Ratzlaff
John 17:13-16 (part 2)
But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
“I have given them your word.”
Jesus intercedes for His own in a way that reveals the Father’s interest in them. It is the Father’s “word” Jesus has given them. This word is the summation of God’s revelation to man. It is in the word that they will find who they are: sinners, yet righteous; in the world, but not of the world. It is in the word that they will find the promises that will sustain them in times of trouble. It is in this word of the Father that they will find their calling to go into the world. It is the practice of the devil to take away the powerful word of God so that people will fall to his deceptions.
Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved (Lk. 8:12).
It is the function of the word to keep us from sinning.
Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You (Ps. 119:11).
Therefore, Jesus declares that He “has given them the Father’s word.”
“And the world has hated them.”
The hatred of the world toward Christians is because the Father has given them His word. Jesus understands the weaknesses of His men. He knows the trials they will face. They, like their Master, will be hated by the world. Jesus knows that in themselves the disciples are vulnerable to Satan’s schemes. Their armament must be the spiritual realities of the gospel. Therefore, Jesus prays that the Father will keep His men, for He knows that they cannot keep themselves. On their own, they are incapable of living unscathed by the world. They must daily depend on the word of God to sustain them.
We should expect to be hated even though we do not look forward to it. Too often the church has softened the bold claims of the gospel in order to be accepted by the world. This often results in the world transforming the gospel message rather than the gospel message transforming the world. Sometimes we are surprised at the hatred expressed toward Christians. But we should know the source of the hatred.
Today the hatred for Christians is increasing, not only in other parts of the world, but here in the U.S. The points of hatred spring from the world rejecting the morals of “the word.” The world accepts the deeds condemned in Scripture and applauds those who practice them: fornication, adultery, untruthfulness, gay lifestyle and same-sex marriage. These practices are now the accepted norms of society. The hatred of the world toward Christians comes from the world’s guilty conscience when they hear God’s word.
…and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them (Rom. 1:32).
We should remember the words of the Lord Jesus when we face the world’s hatred.
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you (Jn. 15:18).
“Because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
The eleven had received the Father’s word, which in turn caused them to be hated by the world. Now Jesus confirms that the hatred reveals they are opposed to the world. When the disciples stand for truth against the deceptions of the world, they are hated. This fact, in a real sense, confirms they are no longer in the world. Their citizenship is now in heaven, even though they are still in the world.
How are we to understand Jesus’ statement that his men are not of the world, even as He is not of the world? The gospel of John has made it clear that Jesus is the Eternal, Self-existent God. We understand that He is not of this world. However, the eleven were born here in this world. One scholar translated this phrase like this:
They are not worldly, just as I am not worldly ( Berkeley translation as quoted by Leon Morris, The Gospel of John, p. 729).
Jesus told Nicodemus that one must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God. The disciples now understand who Christ is and have committed themselves to their Lord. They have been born again. They are assured that one day they will sit in heaven with their Lord. Truly, they are no longer “of the world.”
What a promise this is, not only for the listening eleven, but for us today. When we are born again by the Spirit of God, we, too, are no longer of this world.
The disciples expressed their desire to go wherever Jesus went.
Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him” (Jn. 11:16).
Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You” (Jn. 13:36-37).
Throughout the history of the Christian church, some believers have wished for the coming of Christ, so they, too, could actually be out of the world. This desire to be away from the evil in the world has caused many to try to escape from society by making retreats in solitary places where they do not have to see and experience the evil which is so prevalent. However, I have come to believe that this desire to get out of the cities, make little Christian communities in the mountains or some remote place where they feel safe from the temptations of Satan is not according to God’s will. Note well Jesus’ words.
“I do not ask you to take them out of the world but to keep them from the evil one.”
From the life of Christ as recorded in the Gospels, it is evident that Jesus purposely mingled with sinners.
Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Lk. 15:2).
When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner” (Lk. 19:7).
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” (Mt. 9:11).
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds (Mt. 11:19).
Jesus repeats what He has just said. Repetition points to importance.
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
For the disciples not to be defeated by the enemy, they must know for sure who they are “in Christ.” This truth will be revealed in greater depth after the resurrection as the Apostles take the gospel to the world.
Application
As I studied this section, I had to ask myself a number of questions.
- Do I appreciate the value of the word of God? Do I memorize new Scripture passages as I used to?
- Am I influenced by the hatred of the world to the values expressed in God’s word? Have I changed my understanding of the passages of Scripture that define sexual sin?
- How can I hold to biblical morality and at the same time show the love of Christ to those who are “living in sin”?
- Do I appreciate my position as “being not of this world?”
- Am I one who wants to flee sinful society rather than live and witness the gospel to those who are “of the world”?
- Am I strong enough “in the word” to live among sinners and not be influenced by them?
Prayer
Help me to stay in the word. May I manage my time and effort such that I not only read your word daily, but memorize it so that I will not sin against you. Help me to love those who are living in sin. Keep me from the evil one.
In Jesus name.
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