380. JOH 17:15. CHRIST’S PRAYER FOR HIS PEOPLE

Joh_17:15. Christ’s Prayer for His People

PART I

"I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil."’97Joh_17:15.

Jesus had now in immediate prospect, his sufferings and death. His active engagements on earth were completed. As the great sacrifice, he was now waiting to be offered up. He felt, however, deeply concerned for his disciples. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end; he had given them innumerable proofs of the tenderness and great ness of his love; he now lifted up his eyes to heaven, and bearing them in his priestly arms, presents unto his Father the intercessory prayer of this chapter. See from ver. 8. Observe,

I. It is not the Will of Christ that his

Disciples should be removed out of the World.

1. It is not his design that they should retire into solitude, and abandon its society.

Many have supposed this is the only way to be pious, &c. It should be remarked, that we cannot retire from the attacks of the wicked one; it was in a lonely desert that he tempted Christ. We cannot go far enough to evade our own evil heart. Sin began in solitude, when only Satan and Eve were there. Besides, in solitude, we cannot attend to the great duties of religion, which respect our fellow-men. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor," &c. Social duties would be neglected. No scope for benevolence and works of mercy.

2. He would not have them to abandon the useful avocations of life.

God designed man to be active; he formed him to labor. Indolence is not only a sin, but the source of innumerable evils. In Eden, Adam was appointed to keep the garden, and dress it. Abraham and the patriarchs were husbandmen; Moses was a shepherd, so was David; Paul, one of the most highly learned and gifted of the apostles, worked with his own hands as a tent-maker; yea, it is probable that Jesus assisted Joseph as a carpenter.

3. Christ does not wish his people to have a pharisaical aversion to the society of the world.

The Pharisees would not have intercourse with the publicans and sinners. For this, they blamed the blessed Jesus. "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." We need not avoid civil transactions and proper intercourse, but this must be bounded; we are not to form close compacts with them. Not to be our confidents and companions. In heart and spirit we must be separate, and not be of the world, as Christ was not of it.

4. Christ does not wish his people to be removed by death, when it might sometimes appear desirable.

Often, in dark dispensations, his people have wished and prayed to die. Thus did Elijah, when he fled from Jezebel into the wilderness, and said, "It is enough now, O Lord, take away my life," 1Ki_19:4. Why, Elijah had much work to do; and in fact, God did not intend that he should die at all. So did Job, surrounded with de-pair and blackness. He said, "Oh, that God would grant me the thing I long for even that it would please God to destroy me," Job_6:2. But God had many years for Job to live, and many blessings for him to enjoy. The persecuted Paul had "a desire to depart, and be with Christ, knowing it was far better," yet, it was the will of Christ that he should remain longer, to be a comfort to the churches, and a blessing to the world. No doubt, the disciples would be filled with distress at the idea of Christ leaving them, "Yet," says Jesus, "I pray not," &c. Let us ascertain,

II. The Grounds of Christ’s desire for the Continuance of his People in the World

He desires their continuance,

1. For their own sake.

It might appeal at first sight safer and better for the new convert to be taken at once to glory. But let it be remembered that,

(1) Heaven is a state of purity. A holy meetness is not obtained at once, grace in the soul is like leaven in meal, like the grain of mustard seed. Habits of grace have to be formed, work of sanctification to be carried on. Maturity of holiness is necessary. "Corn must be ripe," &c.

(2) Heaven is a state of intelligence. There must, therefore, be the attainment of knowledge; the Christian here is at school. The volume of knowledge is in his hands. He is under tutors. What knowledge does the new convert possess?

(3) Heaven is a state of reward. Then there must be service done. There must be toil before the rest; warfare before the crown; faithfulness before the "well done," &c. He desires their continuance,

2. For his church’s sake.

Believers are to edify one another; to comfort and aid each other; to present, in their collective capacity, a type of heaven.

3. For the world’s sake.

Thousands and tens of thousands are in the world, who will be saved and brought out of it. Christ prays for these, ver. 21. Now, these are to be saved through the instrumentality of the church. The church is the pillar and ground of truth, the lights of the world, the "salt of the earth;" so then lights are to shine before men, &c. Chris is to be exhibited in his gospel, in his ordinances, and in the lives and examples of his people, who are to be living epistles &c. He desires their continuance in the world.

4. That he may be glorified in them.

Christ said, ver. 10, "I am glorified in them." Satan and the world would blot out the name of God, eclipse his glory. Wherever there is a believer, a monument of grace is exhibited. God is glorified in all his works, as in trees, streams, planets, stars, sun, &c. The Christian is a spiritual cedar, whose fragrance and fruit glorify God; he is like the refreshing stream in the desert. "The water that I shall give," &c. He is a star in the spiritual heavens, and like that of old, he is designed to guide souls to Christ. The heart, the lives, the profession, the worship of saints on earth, all glorify God. We see, then, wherefore Christ prays that they should not be taken out of the world.

Application

1. Do we answer the design of Christ in continuing us in the world? Are we advancing in spiritual knowledge? Are we ornaments to his church? Are we blessings to the world? Do we glorify God?

2. The time of our removal out of the world will come; the desert will be crossed; the voyage passed; the race run. Every day some of the plants of righteousness are transplanted; every day the church on earth is thinned; another and another is ascending to glory; we look abroad, and this and that friend is gone; another seat is vacant in our sanctuary. Let us, then, be found waiting for that momentous period, when we shall go the way of all flesh. This will be the saints’ true and everlasting gain.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS