As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. John 17:18 NABRE
Jesus is praying for His disciples to the Father. Jesus’ prayer focuses on the disciples but He also includes those who come to believe in Him because of the disciples. He also calls on the Father to consecrate them to Himself as He is consecrated. To consecrate someone is to set them apart, it is characteristic of something being set apart from the ordinary and dedicated to a special service of the Lord. Jesus has referred to Himself as consecrated and on mission by saying He is “the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world” (John 10:36) Praying, Jesus calls the disciples into His consecration and mission. As the Father has consecrated and sent Him into the world so too must disciples be consecrated and sent into the world. Jesus prays the disciples be enveloped into the Father’s love, making them holy and empowering them for the mission of Jesus.
It is unusual to be set apart from the remainder of humanity but this is Jesus’ message. Anyone who is consecrated is set apart, beginning with Jesus, then the disciples who have been with Him from the start of His public ministry and it continues in this prayer over all disciples who share Jesus’ mission in the world. Jesus sends these disciples into the world and they in turn consecrate others who they send into the world and it is a cycle that continues today and will be necessary going into the future. It is not for the few to be set apart but for the many followers of Jesus who are consecrated in Him.
Do you see Jesus followers as set apart? Are you one to be consecrated to Jesus?
Jesus sends disciples into the world who are consecrated and they consecrate others sent into the world. It is not for the few to be consecrated but for the many followers of Jesus who are consecrated in Him. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #sent consecrate #John #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways