John 17:13-14 13But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world in order that they may have my joy being made full in them. 14I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15I do not ask in order that you might take them out of the world, but that you might keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
The time of fulfillment was near and Jesus was about to ascend to the Father. His personal mission on earth would be complete after his death and resurrection, but his greater mission of the salvation of the world would continue through his disciples. The last supper was a time to prepare the disciples for what lay ahead. These things could refer to all that Jesus had said in his last discourse at the supper. The reason Jesus took the time to go over his core plans for his disciples and repeat some of the ideas many times was for their full joy. At that moment, they had questions and possibly fear along with the temptation of doubt that comes with fear. They may not have understood all that Jesus said, but they could later collectively reflect on his words and be encouraged.
After his resurrection, their joy would grow through the presence of the Holy Spirit in them (Galatians 5:22). The attributive participle for made full (peplērōmenēn) is perfect passive, indicating that disciples’ joy had come to the point of being filled up, and it would continue in this state. Joy can be full, but the “full” can always grow more. God had begun a good work in them that would continue even after Jesus was physically gone from them. The way to have full joy is to remain in Jesus’ love (15:11). The seed of love had been planted in them. They would learn love through their fellowship with one another. This love would spill out to their families, friends, strangers, and even enemies and would become their primary identity as Jesus’ followers.
Verse 14 gets to the identity of the disciples. Jesus spent three years giving them God’s word. As the Living Word, Jesus spoke forth divine revelation. Everything he said was true and trustworthy because he is the Truth. The response of the dark world to the light of the gospel is hatred because it does not understand the light or hates its own darkness to be exposed by the light (3:19-21). The disciples had come out of the world but were not part of it anymore. Those who follow Jesus and have come into his light should expect the same response he got.
The disciples’ mission was in the same dark world that Jesus came to and died for. Therefore, he adds in his prayer in verse 15 that God would protect his disciples from the evil one. The last phrase could refer more broadly to “evil” as a force or, more narrowly, to Satan. The same interpretive issue is present in other passages like Matthew 6:13. The world remains under the influence of Satan until Jesus comes again (1 John 5:19). Satan was the enemy of Jesus and tempted him to sin, so believers should expect the same. While we are in this world, the forces of evil, led by the prince of this evil world, will seek to get us to compromise our faith and fall back under the world’s influence, but Jesus’ prayer is powerful and reaches throughout time to us. If we identify with him, we tap into eternal resources and divine power to sustain us until he comes again.
For older posts, click here.
