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

Joh_17:15. Christ’s Prayer for His People

PART II

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

We have previously considered the former part of this passage:’97First, That Christ did not desire the removal of his people out of the world’97Secondly, We also noticed the reasons on which his desire might be grounded. We now have to call your attention to the positive request of Jesus on behalf of his people "That they," &c. Consider then,

I. The Evil deprecated.

It has been supposed that Christ referred,

1. To Satan the evil one.

As seems to have been the case in the prayer he taught his disciples, Mat_6:13. The same words are used in both places Now Satan is evil in himself; the source of evil to our race; the lover of evil, the propagator of evil, the patron of evil, and he goes about to diffuse evil. He had tried to subvert the designs of Christ, by his temptation in the desert; and Jesus knew that in every possible way he would labor to injure his disciples, after he left them in the world. But it might refer,

2. To the evil world.

Now observe, it is said that "the whole world lieth in wickedness." It is called an "ungodly world." Satan is called "the prince of this world," Joh_14:30. This world is Satan’s empire: he reigns and rules in the hearts of its inhabitants; he diffuses his spirit into the world. It is under the sinful power of pride, enmity, disobedience. This evil world is a whirlpool of danger; millions have been lost in it. It is a dreary desert; many have fallen a prey to the roaring lion. It is a pestilential hospital, where countless numbers have died of the plague of sin. Notice,

II. The Prayer.

That they might be kept "from the evil."

1. That Satan might not destroy them.

He is the avowed enemy of the righteous: he is malignant, powerful, and incessant; yet he is only a creature’97a finite, limited being; he is chained; he could not touch Job’s goods or health, without God’s permission.

2. That the world might not allure or overcome them.

The evil of the world is presented in two opposite forms.

The evil of its smiles. It is the smile of falsehood and deception; breath of disease and death; it withers all before it; friendship with the world is death to the soul.

The evil of its opposition. Hence either smile or frown; if the smile fail, the latter is employed. Marvel not that the world hate you. If ye were of the world it would love you: the world loves its own. In the world ye shall have tribulation’97its frowns sneers, oppositions, dislike, persecutions, &c. Now many have been injured by the world; many allured, &c. Remember Lot’s wife, Demas, &c. Many terrified; denied Christ; thrown down his cross. Observe,

III. He commends his People to the Keeping of God.

He says, "Keep them," &c. David says, "The Lord is thy keeper." It is also said of God that, in reference to the righteous, "He keeps all his bones, that none are broken." See Psalms 121. The priests under the law were instructed thus to bless the people. See Num_6:24.

1. God alone can keep his disciples.

His omniscience enables him to see the condition, &c. His power: "he is able," &c. "Our God can deliver," &c. It is promised. See Jdg_1:24; Rom_14:4. Paul said, "I know in whom," &c.

2. God has engaged, and has ever kept his people.

Exo_23:20; Isa_41:10-13; 1Pe_1:5, "Kept by the power of God through faith," &c. He has kept from the evil of suffering, and delivered from temporal sorrow; he thus delivered the three Hebrews, Daniel, Peter, John, &c. But God reserves the right of doing this, or of sustaining them in their sufferings. At any rate, he always saves those who trust in him from moral evil.

3. God keeps his people through the merit and intercession of Christ.

All our salvation, from first to last, comes to us through this source. He pardons, sanctifies, comforts, and keeps for Christ’s sake. As our Advocate, he ever lives, &c.

Application

1. What should be the preeminent object of the Christian’s desire and pursuit? To be kept from the evils to which we are exposed. Every day and hour we should pray to be kept, &c.

2. Faith in Christ our intercessor is essential to our preservation. We live, stand, fight, &c., by faith.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS