They Belong To The Father - pt.1
The Upper Room Discourse • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsJesus prays for the disciples because they belong to the Father.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Noah and the flood.
God watched as mankind corrupted themselves and the earth with all their evil.
God watched as mankind corrupted themselves and the earth with all their evil.
The result was a destruction that completely removed all men, women, and children, even animals from the earth.
1 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.
The reason for this destruction, this judgment, was not because they broke a law.
The reason for this destruction was because they broke God’s heart:
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”
God destroyed the earth because they broke His heart!
The world was created by God to love Him.
The world was created by God to love Him.
Instead, they despised Him.
The result of this was alienation leading to judgment.
However, Noah, his wife, and their three sons and daughters-in-law were spared from God’s judgement of the flood.
However, Noah, his wife, and their three sons and daughters-in-law were spared from God’s judgement of the flood.
That indicates that those who belong to the Lord, what theologians call “the elect,” will never suffer from the judgment of their sins.
The elect of God are exempt from sins, not because of their efforts, but because of God’s efforts in the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Further illustrations:
Adam and Eve = were spared ultimate judgment.-their sins were covered.
21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
Cain = died the life of the wicked-his sins were still on him.
5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
Abel = his sins were atoned for.
4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering;
Abraham = his sins were atone for
6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Noah = was declared righteous, which spread to his whole household.
9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.
David = a man after God’s own heart.
13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 “But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
Isaiah = sins were forgiven.
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”
And, there are so many more (Hebrews 11).
In regards to the destruction that is about to come upon the world, Jesus prays that the elect will be saved from the increasing hostility that they, and we, will experience.
The reason is because the saints are those who have believed in Christ, and, as we have shown, God’s wrath is only for the unbelieving.
36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
In the end, the wrath of God, anger against those who choose to indulge in what breaks His heart, will be poured out upon the world, worse than the flood of waters.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. 6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
Therefore, Jesus prays for His own because they are still in the world that is under the pressure of the wrath of God.
Like food in the pressure cooker, the intensity of God’s wrath is heating up and the chosen of God will have to endure it to some degree.
Thus, Jesus prays for these, and us, that we might be kept from the evil one and those who are his.
And, unlike the disciples of Jesus Christ, the world is oblivious to the wrath of God which is being played out daily upon them.
Jesus Prays For His Own-vv.9-10
Jesus Prays For His Own-vv.9-10
v.9
v.9
9 “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours;
9 ἐγὼ περὶ αὐτῶν ἐρωτῶ, οὐ περὶ τοῦ κόσμου ἐρωτῶ ἀλλὰ περὶ ὧν δέδωκάς μοι, ὅτι σοί εἰσιν,
“I ask on their behalf...”
“I ask on their behalf...”
This is indication that Jesus is praying.
This must give us understanding how Jesus prayed other times He prayed.
Notice:
“I” = Jesus Himself
Emphatic pronoun in emphatic position.
“I do not ask on behalf of the world...”
“I do not ask on behalf of the world...”
This is where Jesus draws the line.
Why does He not pray for those in the world the way that He prays for these disciples?
Because, those in the world are not God’s.
Those in the world belong to the Satan.
What is “the world”?
Five ways “world” is used:
The world = the place where there are kingdoms of men.
Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;
The world = the created earth.
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
The world = the place where people dwell.
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
The world = the men who live on the planet.
“For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”
So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”
The world = possibly including the demonic realm.
“The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.
This indicates that there is a clear distinction between those in the world and those in Christ.
23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.
In no sense Is Jesus from “this world.”
This distinction is because of the origin of God vs. the origin of man.
God is from above.
Man is from below.
This is a statement about the nature of the person.
It is, then, a statement about whether a person is “of God,” or “of Satan.”
“of God” = one who belongs to the Father.
“of Satan” = one who belongs to the enemy.
Illustration:
24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 “But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. 26 “But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 27 “The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 “And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 “But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 ‘Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
Weeds were secretly introduced by the enemy of this man.
Jesus told His disciples that those seeds of wheat and those of weeds must coexist until harvest time.
36 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” 37 And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 “So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41 “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
The explanation to these men is as follows:
The Son of Man is the man who sowed seed in His field.
The field is the world.
The good seed = the sons of the kingdom.
The bad seed/weed = the sons of the evil one.
The enemy of the man = the devil.
The harvest = the end of the age; judgment.
What they need to understand is that Jesus, the Creator, installed good seed (probably at creation), and the enemy secretly installed bad seed (at creation by means of the temptation and the fall).
The result is that throughout the ages of time on this earth, there are the good seed, those who are heirs of the kingdom (the elect; the children of God; believers), and there are the bad seed, tares, weeds (the non-elect; the children of the Devil; unbelievers).
Implication:
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Therefore, Jesus is introducing to these men what has been true all along-some belong to God, and some belong to the devil.
Thus, Jesus prays for those who belong to God, and not for those who belong to the devil.
v.10
v.10
10 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them.
10 καὶ τὰ ἐμὰ πάντα σά ἐστιν καὶ τὰ σὰ ἐμά, καὶ δεδόξασμαι ἐν αὐτοῖς.
Three principles to understand in this verse:
Jesus continues to pray concerning the “things” that are the Father’s and the “things” that are His.
Emphatic = “and all things (that are) MINE, they are Yours, and (all) things (that are) Yours (they are) MINE, and I have been glorified in/by them.”
Principle #1 = whatever belongs to Christ has been given to Him from the Father.
This is a statement about the heart condition of the Son-all that is His is really the possession of the Father.
Jesus is not the same as the Father.
But, He has been given all things from the Father.
All things belonged to the Father.
He was the Planner, Designer, and Creator of all in creation.
Therefore, He owns all things.
Thus, He has the right to give it to whomever He wishes.
Jesus thoroughly and willingly knows that all the world, the cosmos, the inheritance, although given to Him, is the Father’s possession.
It is a statement of the love that Jesus has for the Father.
Principle #2 = whatever has been the possession of the Father has been give to Christ.
This is a statement of the heart condition of the Father towards the Son.
Ultimately, all things are given to the Son.
This is because the Father loves the Son.
This is a statement of the love that the Father has for the Son.
35 “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.
Principle #3 = Jesus is glorified by the mutual possession of the things of the Father.
This is the glory of Jesus Christ on earth.
Jesus is glorified by the inheritance.
The nature and mind and “essence” of God is mutual love.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
This is the love that believers are to be characterized by.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Believers should love one another with the sense that all that is mine is yours, and all that is yours is mine.
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and ato prayer.
Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.
And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales
and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),
and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you aabound in this gracious work also.
I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—
at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for ayour need, that there may be equality;
as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
But, this does not mean that men should take advantage of this principle in the church:
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,
nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;
not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.
But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
But, this is not the way that the world does things.
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,
to malign no one, to be peaceable, agentle, showing every consideration for all men.
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and fenvy, hateful, hating one another.
“…I have been glorified in them...”
“…I have been glorified in them...”
A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to St John, Volumes 1 & 2 The Prayer of Jesus for the Eleven—(1) that They May Be Divinely Guarded (vv. 9–16) and (2) that They May Be Consecrated Men (vv. 17–19)
καὶ δεδόξασμαι ἐν αὐτοῖς. The apostles were Jesus’ own men, not only because the Father “gave” them to Him, when they were chosen, not only because all that belonged to the Father belonged to Him, but for the additional reason that He had been “glorified” in them. He was “glorified” in the physical miracle of the Raising of Lazarus (11:4), much more in the spiritual miracle of the faith of the Eleven. They exhibited and continued to exhibit (note the perfect tense δεδόξασμαι) the power of the message which He brought. So Paul said of his Thessalonian converts ὑμεῖς γάρ ἐστε ἡ δόξα ἡμῶν (1 Thess. 2:20). Cf. 2 Thess. 1:10 of the future “glorification” of Christ in His saints.
See that this prayer reveals the truths that Jesus was teaching publicly elsewhere:
22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. 24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26 “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 “I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.
Jesus Prays For Their Unity-vv.11-12
Jesus Prays For Their Unity-vv.11-12
v.11
v.11
11 “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.
11 καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ εἰσίν, κἀγὼ πρὸς σὲ ἔρχομαι. Πάτερ ἅγιε, τήρησον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου ᾧ δέδωκάς μοι, ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν καθὼς ἡμεῖς.
John: An Introduction and Commentary ii. Jesus Prays for His Disciples (17:6–19)
Jesus’ prayer was prompted by his imminent departure: I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. His departure would occur through his death, resurrection and exaltation. When he left this world, his disciples would remain in it and therefore Jesus’ first actual petition was, Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me. Jesus’ form of address to God, ‘Holy Father’, is unique in the NT. It combines reference to God’s transcendence (‘holy’) and Jesus’ intimacy with God (‘Father’). Jesus asked the Father to protect his disciples ‘by the power of your name’ (lit. ‘by your name’). The ‘name’ stands for the person, and so Jesus asked the Father to protect them by his power, to protect them from the power of the evil one.
“I am no longer in the world…and I come to You...”
“I am no longer in the world…and I come to You...”
= Jesus is going to the Father.
“…and yet they themselves are in the word...”
“…and yet they themselves are in the word...”
= they will continue to live in the world after Jesus is gone.
“Holy Father, keep them in Your name...”
“Holy Father, keep them in Your name...”
= the name which You have give Me...”
What name is that?
6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
NAME - WORD
2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.
13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
The name of the Father is equal to His name: YHWH = His Word.
But, notice that Jesus was given a name as well.
What name is that?
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
The Father has given the name LORD to Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.
v.12
v.12
12 “While 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 perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
12 ὅτε ἤμην μετʼ αὐτῶν ἐγὼ ἐτήρουν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου ᾧ δέδωκάς μοι, καὶ ἐφύλαξα, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀπώλετο εἰ μὴ ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας, ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ.
Jesus admitting that while He was with these men, He made sure that these men were kept.
Kept how?
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Jesus kept them physically-Jesus provided food upon His resurrection and appearance.
4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. 9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
Jesus kept them spiritually-Jesus made sure that Thomas could continue to believe.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus kept them testimonially-Peter was still allowed to serve Christ even after he gossiped about John living forever.
20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” 23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
v.13
v.13
13 “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
13 νῦν δὲ πρὸς σὲ ἔρχομαι καὶ ταῦτα λαλῶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἵνα ἔχωσιν τὴν χαρὰν τὴν ἐμὴν πεπληρωμένην ἐν ἑαυτοῖς.
Timing:
“…But now....” = the hour has arrived for Jesus to be betrayed and handed over to Satan and his men.
Ultimately, Jesus will return to the Father (not Hades!).
He needs to leave.
But, Jesus has been preaching and teaching, especially the Upper Room Discourse, so that these men would continue to believe His Words, and in believing them, they would have joy (created in them by God through those Words).
NOTE:
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.
The Word is the Word of the Spirit.
Salvation is the Work of the Spirit.
To walk by/in the Spirit is to walk in obedience to the Word, by faith, for the purpose of fulfilling salvation purposes!
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The concern of Christ is the joy of His disciples?
Why?
Because, that way they can also minister like He did.
He ministered anticipating the joy ahead of Him.
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
v.14
v.14
14 “I 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.
14 ἐγὼ δέδωκα αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον σου καὶ ὁ κόσμος ἐμίσησεν αὐτούς, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου καθὼς ἐγὼ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου.
v.15
v.15
15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
15 οὐκ ἐρωτῶ ἵνα ἄρῃς αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου, ἀλλʼ ἵνα τηρήσῃς αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ.
v.16
v.16
16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
16 ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου οὐκ εἰσὶν καθὼς ἐγὼ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου.
The origin of the saints is the same as the Christ-from the Father.
1 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
John: An Introduction and Commentary ii. Jesus Prays for His Disciples (17:6–19)
Jesus’ prayer was prompted by his imminent departure: I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. His departure would occur through his death, resurrection and exaltation. When he left this world, his disciples would remain in it and therefore Jesus’ first actual petition was, Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me.
33 “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. 35 “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. 36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”