John 17:11-12 11I am no longer in the world, and they themselves are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, in order that they may be one even as we are. 12While I was with them, I was keeping them in your name which you have given me; and I guarded them and not one of them was lost but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
Verse 11 gives the big problem: the disciples were stuck in the world. The opening statement of this verse is proleptic and an anticipation of the coming days. Jesus was still in the world for a short time, but the world had no control over him. He was about to leave it, but the disciples would still be in the world where their mission was. The world is a difficult place to live. The temptations can be strong. The trials and tribulations are often overwhelming. The physical challenges of sickness and disease wear us down. We need the same prayer Jesus gave for the disciples here.
Since the disciples had to remain behind, they needed the help of the Holy Father. This is the only time God is called by the title Holy Father in the New Testament, though the idea in not unique but found throughout the Bible. This suggests that its appearance here is on purpose and significant. Because God is holy, he can make the disciples holy (verse 17). Jesus’ specific petition is that God would keep the disciples in his name. To be kept in God’s name, which is holy, is to be sanctified for his use. God will keep that which is committed to him in faith. What makes us holy is the holiness of God. Jesus was asking the Father to give the same protection to the disciples as he gave to Jesus.
Jesus embodied the holy name of God in his obedience to the Father’s will. In your name could be instrumental, indicating that God’s powerful name would protect them while they were in the world. The phrase could be a locative of sphere referring to God’s character of holiness. God could protect the disciples from the bad influence of the world because of their relationship with him through the Holy Spirit. Both ideas are possible and attempt to capture the significance of God’s power and presence with them. The name of the Holy Father, the I AM, is the same Jesus had. He was the holiness and love of God in human form.
The reason for the disciples’ protection and identity as those who bear the name of Jesus, who bears the name of God, is that they may be united. Jesus specifically prayed that these disciples would become the catalysts for a united people of God. What would help the disciples as they lived in the world would be their unity, which would come as they stayed in a relationship with Jesus and loved one another (chapter 15). This small group would grow to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, from every tribe and nation, yet they would be united because they share the same holy name.
Verse 12 indicates that Jesus kept the disciples safe during his earthly ministry. Once again, the source of protection was in the Father’s name, the name Jesus shared. This protection was spiritual because of the threats of evil that sought to cast doubt and fear on them. The four Gospels reveal the struggles of the disciples, which were mostly in the form of a slow understanding of Jesus’ identity and mission. No disciples were lost except the son of perdition, referring to Judas Iscariot. Perdition (apōleias) means ruin, damnation, or destruction of one’s life or soul. Jesus had completed his mission of training a group of followers who would be his primary instruments to reach the world from which they came. Jesus did not fail with Judas either because it was all part of God’s plan in fulfillment of Scripture (13:18). Judas’ betrayal fulfilled prophecy and was not because Jesus did not train Judas well. When disciples are connected to Jesus in faith and the obedience of love, there is safety and security in his name.
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