Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17 WEB
In chapter seventeen of John’s gospel, Jesus prays for God to glorify him as he glorified the Father. Christ says in John 17:3-4, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. WEB” Next, the Lord prays for his disciples. Finally, Jesus prays for those brought to faith through the gospel message shared by the disciples, soon to be apostles.
When Jesus says, “Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth,” Jesus is praying for those disciples who God gave to him in this world. His words demonstrate that he was glorified in this world by the Father through them. Further, Jesus intends that his faithful disciples hear this prayer as he says in John 17:13, “that they may have my joy made full in themselves. WEB”
You Are Not of the World
Jesus continues to teach his disciples by his prayerful example, acknowledging to them and to God that he and his followers belong to the Father and are not of this world. As Jesus had already taught the twelve in John 15:19, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. WEB” God calls Christians to separate from the corruption of the world, into a faithful relationship with him.
With his crucifixion fast approaching, our Savior prays that the Father keep his disciples from evil, protecting them from the attacks of the enemy of the word of God. In doing so, Christ refers to Psalm 119:142 which says, “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your law is truth. WEB” When Jesus prays that the Father sanctify his core followers in truth, saying to God, “your word is truth,” he demonstrates the sanctifying, protective quality of living by the word of God.
Jesus Is the Way to the Father
Christ is the truth, the word of God in the flesh. Jesus says in John 14:6, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. WEB” Although some reject the gospel and the wicked actively oppose it, ultimately, there is no greater message than the word of God. Likewise, there is no greater law than the law of God. Saying, “your word is truth,” Jesus equates the word of God with truth in the deepest and most fundamental way.
The Father and the Son sanctified the disciples with the truth of God’s word. In his parable of the vine and the branches Jesus taught the twelve of the purifying purpose of his word. It prunes away all that is evil, leaving only what is good. As Jesus says to his disciples in John 15:3, “You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. WEB”
It is the word of God that sanctifies. Salvation, forgiveness of our sins, comes from the sacrifice made by Christ on the cross. It is obedience to the word of God that protects believers from further offense against the Creator.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for my salvation in Jesus Christ. Your word is the truth. Guide me with your word and keep me from evil. Help me to live in obedience to your will as I share the truth of the gospel with the world. In Jesus name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: By His Wounds
