John 17:9-16 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which you have given me; for they are yours.… I. THE PERSONS. "Those whom Thou hast given Me." The disciples in contrast — 1. With the world (ver. 9). Christ meant, not that men, as men, were excluded from His intercessions, but that they were not then the object of His pleadings; He was then acting as the Church's High Priest, preparing to sanctify Himself as a sacrifice for His believing people. Hence the unbelieving world had no direct interest in the blessings He was asking. 2. With the son of perdition. Judas had by this time been excluded from the apostolic circle (John 13:30). II. THE BLESSING — preservation in — 1. Unity (ver. 11), such as expresses itself in one faith, one love, one body, one life (Ephesians 4:3-6). This is not only the subject of Christ's intercession with the Father, but the object of the Father's keeping of the saints. He keeps them, not by forcible compulsion, but by spiritual persuasion, helping them to understand the oneness of love, life, power subsisting between the Father and the Son, in such fashion that they earnestly desire and labour after such oneness among themselves; in this showing that they follow God as dear children. 2. In safety (ver. 15). One can imagine reasons why Christ should have prayed that the disciples should be taken from the world with Himself, e.g., He would rather be accompanied by those who had loved Him; and that it would be better for them than to be left exposed to the world (Philippians 1:23). But He discerns grounds why it was better that they should be left — (1) For themselves, inasmuch as they were as yet imperfectly sanctified. (2) For Christ, for the vindication of His honour, for the propagation of His truth. (3) For the world.They were to remain as salt to preserve it, as light to illuminate it, as leaven to work in it. Hence Christ prayed that they might be shielded from evil, from hurtful things (Mark 16:18; Luke 10:19; Acts 18:10); from wicked men (2 Thessalonians 3:2); from the evil one (1 John 5:8). 3. In felicity (ver. 13). III. THE ARGUMENTS. 1. They belonged to Him, the Father (ver. 9). Believers are God's — (1) By nature, as His creatures. (2) By grace, as His children. (3) By community of interest with Christ (ver. 10). 2. Christ's glory was involved in their preservation (ver. 10). In them the world would behold His glorification, and the character of His religion. By them His glorification would be proclaimed, and the glory of His kingdom advanced (Acts 2:33; Acts 3:13). 3. They were about to be deprived of His presence (ver. 11). Up to then Christ had shielded them; accordingly, like a dying parent, He commends them to His Heavenly Father's care. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. |
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