John 17:15

DISCOURSE: 1711
PRESERVATION FROM SIN MORE DESIRABLE THAN DELIVERANCE FROM AFFLICTION

John 17:15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

WE admire the solicitude which a dying parent expresses for the future and eternal welfare of his children; nor can we easily shake off the concern which such a spectacle creates in our minds. Such a scene, but incomparably more affecting, is here presented to our view. The Saviour of the world was unmindful of his own impending sorrows, and was altogether occupied with the concerns of his Church and people. Having given his last instructions to his Disciples, he poured out his soul in prayer for them. One of the principal subjects of his prayer is specified in the text.
We shall consider,

I. What our Lord prayed for on behalf of his Disciples—

He prayed “not that they should be taken out of the world”—

[He had just declared that the world hated his Disciples. Hence we might suppose that he should wish them to be taken out of the world; and many reasons might have been urged by him to enforce such a request. God had often taken away his beloved people in a signal manner [Note: Hebrews 11:5; 2 Kings 2:11.]: he speaks of a sudden removal in evil times as a favour to them [Note: Isaiah 57:1.]. He would hereby manifest his indignation against the world for crucifying his Son; and our Lord might then have carried his Disciples with him as trophies. Nor can we doubt but that such a measure would have been extremely pleasing to his Disciples.

But on the whole such a petition would have been inexpedient; first, on account of the world. The Disciples were to be the instructors of mankind [Note: Matthew 28:19.], and to be living examples of true piety [Note: Matthew 5:14.]. They were also to intercede on behalf of their fellow-creatures; but, if they were taken away together with our Lord, their commission could not be executed, and the world would lose the benefit of their instructions and prayers. What an inconceivable loss would this have been both to Jews and Gentiles! Yea, in what a state of ignorance should we ourselves have been at this moment!

Next, it would have been inexpedient on God’s account, if I may so speak. The Disciples were to be, like the dispossessed Gadarene, monuments of God’s mercy [Note: Luke 8:39.]. They were to exemplify in their own persons the all-sufficiency of Divine grace under every situation. They were to be instruments also whereby the eternal counsels of the Deity were to be accomplished: their removal therefore would have robbed God himself of his glory.

Lastly, it would have been inexpedient on account of the Disciples themselves. They would have been glad to have accompanied their Lord; but it would not have been for their advantage at that time. Their reward was to be proportioned to their labours and sufferings [Note: 1 Corinthians 3:8.]. If they had been taken away at that time they had done but little for God; consequently they would not have possessed so bright a crown as they now do. How glad are they now that their abode on earth was prolonged!]

The request which our Lord offered for them was far better—
[He prayed that they might be kept from the evil of it. Satan is by way of eminence called “the evil one.” He is incessantly plotting the destruction of God’s chosen people [Note: 1 Peter 5:8.], and our Lord might have respect to their preservation from him [Note: Ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ—Satan is often called ὁ πονηρὸς. Ephesians 6:16 and 1 John 5:18.]; but he rather refers to the moral evil that is in the world. And there was good reason why he should pray for their deliverance from that.

The temptations they would have to encounter were innumerable. Their poverty might beget impatience and discontent; their persecutions might provoke them to retaliation and revenge; their incessant danger of a violent death might tempt them to apostasy. They were to have innumerable trials from without and from within: how needful then was it that they should have an almighty Keeper!

They were utterly unable of themselves to withstand the smallest temptation. The Disciples were altogether men of like passions with ourselves; nor had they any more sufficiency in themselves than the weakest of us [Note: 2 Corinthians 3:5.]. The most confident of them fell, as soon as he boasted of his strength [Note: Matthew 26:33; Matthew 26:35; Matthew 26:74.]. Almighty power was then, as well as now, necessary to keep any man from falling [Note: Jude, ver. 24, 25.]. How kind then was our Lord’s solicitude to interest his Father in their behalf!

Their fall would be attended with the most pernicious consequences. It would open the mouths of their adversaries, and cause them to blaspheme [Note: 2 Samuel 12:14.]. It would utterly destroy all hopes of success in their own ministry; and, even if they should be recovered, and saved at last, they would be deprived of a great part of their reward [Note: 1 Corinthians 3:15.]. Hence our Lord’s request was the best that could be offered for them.]

Hence we may see,

II.

What we should mainly desire for ourselves—

An exemption from the troubles and calamities of life, however desirable in some points of view, is not greatly to be coveted. St. Paul, it is true, “desired to depart and to be with Christ:” but it was not in order to get rid of his trials, but that he might have full possession of the glory which awaited him; not that he, his earthly tabernacle, might be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life [Note: 2 Corinthians 5:4.].” But

To be preserved from “the corruptions that are in the world through lust [Note: 2 Peter 1:4.]” is most desirable—

[The snares with which we are surrounded in this vain world are very many, and replete with danger. “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life,” are soliciting us continually, and presenting temptations to us exceeding difficult to be withstood — — — Even though we may have withstood them manfully for a season, we are yet in danger of being overcome by them at last, and of perishing thereby with an aggravated weight of guilt and condemnation [Note: 2 Peter 2:20.]. So eminent a character was Demas, that St. Paul himself, a good judge of characters, twice united him with St. Luke in his salutations to the Churches: yet of him it is said, “Demas hath forsaken us, having loved this present world [Note: 2 Timothy 4:10.].” Who then can hope to stand, if he be not upheld by the Almighty power of God? Truly it is God alone who is “able to keep us from falling [Note: Jude, ver. 24.]:” and therefore we should make our supplications to him continually for that end.]

For the obtaining of this mercy it is not possible for us to be too importunate—
[It was in order to this end that Christ himself came into the world, and died upon the cross: “He gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father [Note: Galatians 1:4.].” And to produce this blessed effect is the great scope and tendency of his Gospel: “By the cross alone it is that the world is crucified unto us, and we unto the world [Note: Galatians 6:14.].” In fact, there is not a person upon earth that ever gets a victory over the world, except by faith in Christ [Note: 1 John 5:5.]. On the other hand, every one that is really born of God does gain this victory [Note: 1 John 5:4.]. And this is the distinguishing character of all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity; they all resemble him in this particular, “not being of the world, even as he was not of the world [Note: ver. 14, 16.].” If then we would reign with Christ hereafter, we must resemble him now; and never cease to implore help from God, that the world and all its lusts may, in answer to our prayers, be put for ever under our feet.]

In conclusion i would say,
1.

Learn to form a right estimate of the world—

[It is, in fact, a wilderness, through which we are to pass to the promised land; and we are but pilgrims passing through it, or sojourners taking up our residence in it for a few days at most. Whether we have a more or less gratifying accommodation in it, is a matter of small moment. We are going to our Father’s house, where we shall possess all that our souls can wish; and present things are only of importance as they advance or retard our meetness for our heavenly inheritance. The instant that we have arrived at our journey’s end, we shall see what judgment we ought to have formed of the world, and every thing in it. Let us anticipate that judgment now; and we shall rise superior to the attractions of all created things, and to the solicitations of every unhallowed appetite—]

2. Seek to have, in reference to it, “the same mind as was in Christ Jesus”—

[In asking for you a preservation from the snares of the world, he judged right. He wished not to abridge your happiness, but to promote it. And, if we call upon you to renounce the world, and all its lusts, we are not Cynics, as you are apt to imagine, but your best and truest friends. Even when all his own sufferings were coming upon him, the Saviour, forgetful of himself, implored this blessing for you. And if I were never to address you more, I would, with all earnestness, urge this duty on you, and implore this blessing on your behalf. You can only be happy in proportion as you rise above this world to the pursuit and enjoyment of heavenly things. Look at the Saviour, and see how superior he was to all the things of time and sense. That is the state I wish you to attain; and the more you resemble him now, the richer shall be your enjoyment of his presence in a better world—]