Gloriographs by Rick Reynolds

18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17:18-21

If you read this passage repeatedly, you pick up on a pattern, and I paraphrase. You sent me, I sent them. I sanctify myself, that they may be sanctified. I do not ask for these alone, but for those who believe through them. That they all be one, as we are one. There’s always a connection. It reminds me of a relay race, something I participated in for six years as a sprinter. It was all about successfully passing the baton. The exchange was everything. There was never a more sinking feeling than to hear aluminum bouncing on the asphalt.

Here’s a little “inside track” stuff. The baton exchange in a relay race requires perfect timing. The runner with it yells “go” as he (or she) reaches his mark on the track (laid out beforehand), and the next runner takes off blindly at full speed, extending his hand back with his palm up. The runner stretches out and lays the baton into the outstretched hand as squarely as can be managed without breaking stride. Done perfectly, there is no loss of momentum. Any failures in the process are magnified, ranging from a slower time, disqualification, or the dreaded baton drop.

I can say this, the exchange between the Father and Son was seamless, as was his handoff to the disciples, save the one who disqualified himself.

For the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. John 17:8

The next exchange would be crucial, though, from disciple to new disciple. For this exchange, Jesus prayed, “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.” John 17:20 I, for one, appreciate the Lord’s foresight, to have included me in his prayer. This takes the pressure off me to perform. Life comes at you quick, just like that outstretched hand.

I’ve always admired and strived for the athlete’s mindset. We may be gifted with athleticism, but such a gift is useless unless rigorously engaged and employed. An athlete sets himself or herself apart (i.e., pursues sanctification) from the lures of the world to train hour upon hour. So should we! Positionally, we may have received the baton, but now we must run the race laid out before us perfectly with every ounce of our being, and you’ve got to prepare yourself. This training in context of this passage involves God’s word.

The question is, “Are you athletic and not an athlete?” What’s your mindset? In what way are you preparing yourself for the contest that is life?

Paul was a fan of athletic games and drew many lessons from the competition he witnessed. There are no more inspiring verses in the Bible than these.

²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; ²⁷ but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27