Meaningful Life
Date: June 22, 2026
John 17:12-19
12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”
TEXT: John 17:12-19
Theme: Jesus Intercessory Prayer for His Eleven Disciples and the Church
Take-Away-Point: Pray for Sanctification.
As the hour draws nearer for the Messiah to depart the world, He undertook a very long prayer of intercession for His eleven disciples, future believers, and the Church at large. The only person that was not covered by the Lord’s protection was Judas Iscariot the disciple who chose to betray Jesus as noted in verse 12b of our text.
Salient Points From The Text:
1. Jesus Prays for the Eleven Disciples' Joy to be Full (vs13) “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”
All through the teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ, He had always been concerned about the topic Joy in the lives of His Disciples. For example, in John 15:11 Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
In Psalm 30:5 King David wrote that “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” We see that Jesus and the Holy Bible had always been looking out for the joy of believers.
2. Jesus Prayed that God Would Protect All Believers from Satan (vs 15-16): 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”
Our Savior knew the danger the remaining 11 disciples at that time would face in the world after His departure and that was why He prayed for them that God would keep them and protect them from the evil plans and trappings of Satan (the evil one).
Satan is mad at Christians and is intent on stealing our joy, Satan’s goal is to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10), and his strategy to carry out these plans is to deceive people with the temptations and false pleasures of the world.
In His prayer, Jesus did not ask the Father to take us out of the world, no. “15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world” Yes, we will be badly treated, yes we will face trials and temptations, but to chicken-out of the world was not an option.
Our Savior believed in spiritual warfare and that was why throughout His ministry on earth, He always engaged in prayer and fasting. For further insight into spiritual warfare and the importance of prayer in the life of a Christian, please read Ephesians 6:10-18.
3. Jesus Prayed for the Sanctification of All Christian Believers (vs 17): “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth”
Sanctification means to be set apart for God’s purpose. For us to be sanctified, we need to set ourselves apart in fasting and prayer, study of the Word, actively involved in mission work, and generally live a life of Holiness.
4. We Are Sent on A Mission (vs 18): “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”
God sent His Son Jesus to earth to die for our sins and salvation of our souls. Jesus has also sent us on the mission of sharing the good news and winning souls for His kingdom.
This is not an ordinary assignment. We must not treat it with levity. Jesus spoke with the Almighty God that “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” Jesus passed the same authority from God to you and I. What a privilege.
5. Jesus Sanctifies Himself for us to Be Sanctified (vs 19): “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”
Jesus had to sanctify Himself (set Himself apart) to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins in order to fulfil God’s divine purpose of redemption.
Jesus wants us to set ourselves apart to fulfil the mission of the great commission He has committed to our hands. May we not fail Him. Amen.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Let us thank our Redeemer Jesus for praying and interceding on our behalf.
2. Ask the Lord to sanctify you, for you to be able to fulfil God’s divine purpose. Pray for strength not to compromise to the temptations of the world.
3. Jesus prayed to the Father - “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” Are you fulfilling the mission God has committed to your hands? Ask for grace to obey this command.
Until I come your way next time, I wish you a meaningful week.
Yours-in-Christ
David Kachi Jite