What is Truth?

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Reading Text – John 17:6-18

In John 17, Jesus prays to God, the Father, for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers.  In verse 6, Jesus prays, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given me [out of the world.]  They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept your word.”  Then in verse 9, we read, “I pray for them.  I do not pray [for the world], but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” 

In Verses 11-12, Jesus prays, “Now, I am no longer [in the world], but these are [in the world], and I come to You. While I was with them [in the world], I kept them in Your name.”  Verse 13-18, “But now I come to You and these things I speak [in the world], that they may have My joy in themselves.  I have given them Your word, and [the world has hated] them because they are [not of the world], just as I am [not of the world].  I do not pray that You should take them [out of the world], but that You should keep them from the evil one.  They are [not of this world] just as I am [not of this world].  Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth.  As you sent Me [into the world], I also have sent them [into the world].” 

As I was reading Jesus’ prayer to the Father, I was struck by the number of times He used “The World” in this prayer.  Let’s look at the different ways He talks about the world:  

Out of the world – the disciples were called out of the world.

The World – Jesus didn’t pray for the world, but He did pray that the disciples would not be taken out but kept from the evil one. 

In the World – Jesus states that He is no longer In the World, but the disciples are still in the world.

Not of this World – the disciples are hated because they are not of this world, just like Jesus is not of this world.

Into the World – Jesus was sent into the world, just as the disciples.  

The truth is that evil is in the world, and if we live our lives in the world, we will be impacted.  But if we realize that we are not of this world, we can be the ones sent to make a difference in the lives of others.  

Ephesians 1:17-23 is a prayer that helps us to get the proper perspective. The apostle Paul tells us to pray so that God will give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, so we can see into the spirit realm to know that we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ.  I believe this is what Jesus was trying to show His disciples when He said – “I am no longer in the world.”  He was still in natural flesh when He prayed to the Father.  I believe He had already transitioned His earthly perspective into a heavenly realm. 

John tells us in 1 John 4:4, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”  Remember that in this world, there will be tribulation – but You can overcome, because Christ is in you.