15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to 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; Your word is truth. John 17: 15-17
When it dawns on us that the whole world hates us, and that Jesus did not pray to his Father to remove us from the world, our only hope is for his protection to make it through, and Jesus prays for just that.
The Greek word used in v. 15 among many choices is tereo, “to watch over, preserve, keep, watch,” which is used of Paul and Silas after being beaten and tossed into prison to be watched closely by the jailkeeper (Acts 16:23), and in the case of Paul being held in custody for his appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:21). Interestingly, while Paul enjoyed relative freedom as he made his way to Rome, the thought is he could not escape from his captor, but his captor was bound by orders to protect him unto death! I am heartened to be tethered to the Father and therefore enjoy his protection against the clutches of the evil one!
A study of Jesus’ activity on earth reveals quickly that he was other worldly (v. 16). The same should be true of us. We should be noticeably different. How am I different? How are you different?
The same attributes that set Jesus apart should betray us. We are to be set apart, that is, sanctified (hagiazo, or “to separate”) “in the truth,” by way of God’s Word (v. 17). Only a true Christian is beckoned by its power, partaking of it voraciously, and as such, while in the world, can at the same time be not of the world. The evil one, the angry roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), “the malignant one,” wanders the earth seeking those he might devour. If we are cloaked in the power of God’s truth, we are protected.
We know God answers prayer, so how could he rebuff his Son? He has asked the Father that we might be guarded and protected, and the request has been granted. How do we know for sure? As did Peter, we know who possesses the words of eternal life (John 6:68), the ultimate trump card, and we know with absolute certainty it is not the “evil one!”
Practically, the Word drives us to say, “I love you Lord.” It bucks us up to be courageous. It gives us keen insight and gives us wisdom that surpasses our teachers. It gives us grace to overlook our faults and those of others. It contains The Revelation, the end of the story, in exact and riveting detail. In no uncertain terms it outlines the way of salvation.
Outside of salvation, it, the Word of God, is the greatest gift of all, a full access pass to all truth, to the mind of our Savior.
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