11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.
Over and over again Scripture tells us just how much Jesus loved His little band of believers. In our verse for today we are shown how He tenderly cares for His people by remembering their weak positions here on earth and makes intercession for their need of both safety and comfort. Christ’s intercession is always lovingly pertinent being fully acquainted with all the particulars of our needs. Weakness was their present position therefore preservation was what He petitioned. Earlier in John we discover the demonstration of Christ’s love through His servant-like actions towards His disciples:
1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. John 13:1 (NIV)
“For the love of God is broader than the measures of man’s mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.” Frederick William Faber
Now, we discover His demonstration of love through His petition to the Holy Father. Surely our all seeing Savior knew the condition of the hearts of His guys. He must have detected the disciple’s impatient desire to dump the world in lieu of the divine dwelling of heaven. They were weak in strength, surrounded by enemies and few in number. In view of their knowledge of the Lord’s imminent departure, it would certainly not be a stretch to think they would prefer to be released from the scene of conflict and enjoy the comforts of the presence of their Master in their heavenly home. The prospect of being left without His presence sent shivers up their spines. They were about to be orphans, thinking they were going to be left with only their meager resources amidst a cold, wicked and persecuting world. Even the great warrior King David wrote:
6 I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest"-- Psalms 55:6 (NIV)
Through these recorded Words of our Lord Jesus we are taught the great lesson that He thinks it better for His people to remain in the world and be kept from evil than to be taken out and removed from the presence of evil altogether. It is His great desire that we should take up our crosses rather than flee from them. The disciples were to be lights – just as He had been - for this dark world as a reflection of His glory. He would not have them removed out of it especially for those who would come to believe in Him through their message. The same is true for modern day believers as well. How indeed could believers do any good for the world if they were snatched up to heaven immediately after conversion? How could they exhibit the power of grace or the proof of faith? It is not yet time for the wedding feast of the Lamb. Not all are in the fold.
“He asks that they may be kept and preserved from evil, from falling away, from false doctrine, from being overcome by temptation, from being crushed by persecution, from every device and assault of the devil. Danger was around them on every side. Weakness was their present characteristic. Preservation was what He asked.” John Charles Ryle
Our Lord asks that they (and every subsequent believer) be preserved through the grace, power and attributes of God the Father. Not that they may be kept from conflict but that they may not be overcome by it. It is an unspeakable comfort to know Christ has committed His believers to the Father’s ever watchful care. Those cannot be safe whom the Almighty Father does not keep and He keeps those whom the Son He loves commits to Him by placing them under divine protection. God’s power is needful to both put us in a state of grace and to keep us there.
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor 10:13 (NIV)
“God wills that you sanctify the world and your everyday life.” Vincent Pallotti
The righteous are to turn to the Name of the Lord – His revealed character - for refuge - those who are concerned for the glory of His great Name rather than interest in promoting their own. We discover the following Truth in Proverbs:
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Prov 18:10 (NIV)
7 The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. Isaiah 26:7 (NIV)