The Upper Room Discourse - The Father's Gift

John 17:6-19

John 17 is known as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. We saw last week that this prayer can be divided into three sections reminiscent of the high priest’s ritual of prayer in preparation for The Day of Atonement. The first section concerned Jesus’ prayer for himself (17:1-5).

We turn this week to the second petition itself (John 17:6-19), the petition for God’s safekeeping of the disciples, and the first thing we notice is the danger that calls forth this expression of concern from our Lord.

First, although Jesus was leaving to go to the Father, these were not leaving. In fact, they were to remain in the world. This is a serious and almost ominous note in an otherwise joyful and optimistic prayer. Moreover, there is a contrast between himself in the position he was soon to enjoy and these in their position. James Boice quotes another writer:

     Rainsford puts it like this, “I come to thy presence where there is fullness of joy, and to ‘thy right hand where there are pleasures for evermore.’ ‘I come’ – to where the river of the water of life flows from the throne of God; but these, these are in the wilderness. ‘I come’ – where no enemy can follow me, where no temptation can assail me, where no weariness can distress me; but these, ‘these are in the world.’ ‘I come’ – to reap trophies of my great victory. ‘I come’ – to grasp the scepter, to wear the crown, and to ascend the throne. I have been weary here, but I shall soon be weary no longer; the way has been rough and thorny, but it is all over, my haven is almost reached; yet these, ‘these are in the world!’” (Commentary on the Gospel of John, Vol. 4, p1289)

We cannot miss the importance of this contrast.

We also notice that the disciples’ danger was terribly great because apart from God’s perseverance, they would surely be lost. If it were not for God, who could stand (remember Judas Iscariot)? Who could survive the assaults of the world if God did not keep us?

But God does keep us.

That is the point of these verses and the object of our Lord’s petition. While Jesus was here, he kept those whom God had entrusted to him, and he kept them well. None was lost. Now he is about to return to the Father, and therefore he recommits those whom he had cared for to the Father’s keeping.

This theme occurs many times in the Old Testament, often in rich images, such as a divine watchman (Psalm 121), a sovereign shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16), and a caring husbandman in a fruitful vineyard (Isaiah 27).

How could they be safer? “True, the danger was great without and even greater within, for they possessed an old nature that would drag them down into sin over and again. But over against this was One who was greater even than the danger. And he would keep them, even as he had promised to keep and actually did keep Israel” (Boice).

I hope you can join us this week as we look at the second portion of Jesus’ high priestly prayer concerning his disciples. What does it mean for God to ‘keep’ us? How can this truth embolden us to live for God’s glory?

In His Name,

Pastor Wayne