"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth."
John 17:17
John 17 is “The Great High-Priestly Prayer” of Jesus Christ. He prayed this prayer the night before His crucifixion. In His prayer to His Father, Jesus prayed for Himself (verses 1-5). Then He prayed for His Disciples’ “sanctification,” for the disciples who will be serving Him in this evil world (verses 6-19). This has also been called the “Consecration Prayer.” Jesus ends His prayer by praying for the love and unity of all future believers (verses 20-26). Today we will focus on verse 17 and what Jesus was praying for His disciples.
There are two vital parts to Jesus’ request to His Father for His disciples. The first was for their protection, “keep them” (vv. 11-12), from the God-haters in the world (v. 14). And then He prayed for their “sanctification” (v. 17).
“Protection”
Jesus has nothing to do with Satan or his corrupt world system. Satan is the “father” of the “ungodly line” on the earth. God is the “Father” of the “believing line of people.” Jesus said, “I am not of this world” (v.14). Jesus gave His men His Word to live by and preach, bringing the hatred of Satan’s offspring down on their heads. This is why they need God’s protection in this world. Just as Jesus is “not of this world,” neither are His followers. Because of their “new birth,” they no longer belong to this world’s kingdom.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
Their personal faith in the person and works of Jesus has provided for their “new birth.” Their citizenship has been moved from this earth, and they belong to God and His Kingdom!
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).
What has made this tremendous difference in their lives? Jesus gave them His Word, the truth! The issue separating God’s people and the unbelieving lost of this world is the truth! Believers love and live by the truth!! Lost sinners scorn and reject it!! And there lie the issues the world has against Jesus Christ lovers. Believers, we need God’s protection here from Satan and his followers of this earth. Please note there is no middle ground here. Either one belongs to Jesus and stands for the truth with Him, or they belong to Satan and live for him.
“Sanctification”
“Christ next prayed for the disciples, that they might not only be kept from evil but made good. It is the prayer of Jesus for all that are His that they may be made holy” [1] (Henry).
Because of their redemption, the disciples no longer belonged to this world. In the Bible, the word “sanctify” means “to set apart for God’s (special) use.” As believers who belong to the King, we are “set apart from the world and for His use.” The negative side of being “sanctified” is that we believers are set apart from the world!
“A believer is to be distinct from the world’s sin, its values, and its goals” [2] (BKC).
“The end of being made holy by the truth is being equipped for God’s service” [3] (CSB).
The positive side of our sanctification is that we are set apart, especially to God, for His use! We do not belong to the world, nor should it have any control over us for evil. We are not ashamed to be forever pro-Christ, “for in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28a). And we live for “His glory” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
According to John 17:17, what is the means of God’s sanctifying work in the disciples (and us)? “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.” It is God’s truth that sanctified His men.
“The truth is communicated in the Word, which is both personal and propositional. As the message about Jesus was heard, believed, and understood, the disciples’ hearts and minds were captured. This change in their thinking resulted in changes in their living. The same is true of believers today…. God’s message set the apostles apart from the world so that they would do His will, not Satan’s” [4] (BKC).
Believers, this same wonderful thing is happening in our lives also. As we are redeemed and begin to live according to God’s Word, His Holy Spirit works His progressive sanctification in us.
“As they appropriate God’s Word to their lives, they are sanctified—set apart for God and changed in their living in order to honor God….” [5] (BKC).
Jesus told His men, “now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3).
“The more truth you believe, the more sanctified you will be. The operation of truth upon the mind is to separate a man from the world unto the service of God” [6] (Spurgeon).
Dear believers, the Lord insists that we live according to His Word. God’s truth is the powerful agency that changes lives. The Word of God is –
“… the means of stirring up the hatred of the world; … [and for the believer it is] the means of sanctification. The Word here sums up the whole message of God in the teaching of Jesus, which the disciples were to proclaim to the world” [7] (NBC).
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace” [8]
Quote: The more we are separated to our Lord and live by His Word, the less we are attracted to “the world’s sin, earthly values, or its ungodly goals.”
[1] Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Jn 17:17.
[2] BKC, Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 333.
[3] CSB, Robert M. Bowman Jr., “Is Jesus the Only Way?,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1700–1701.
[4] BKC, ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Spurgeon’s quote is borrowed from EWC – David Guzik. Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[7] NBC, Donald Guthrie, “John,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1059–1060.
[8] This is the refrain to “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863-1961). Tune: LEMMEL. Copyright status: Public Domain.