The Enigma of the World

 

“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. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14 – 16).

 

“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:18).

 

Since in previous reflections we’ve explored our relationship with the world, including the world’s opposition to Christ and to us (see especially our consideration of John 15:18 – 16:4), we won’t retrace our steps. However, there is an enigma, a distinction, and a calling that we want to recognize in John 17:13 – 23.

 

Twice Jesus says, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” What do the words “even as I” convey to us?

 

We are to love “even as” Jesus loves (John 13:34). Jesus sends us “even as” the Father sent Him (20:21). We are to be one “even as” the Father and Son are one (17:21). The Father loves us “even as” He loves the Son (17:23).

 

If we are truly “not of the world,” as Jesus is not of the world; if our origin and source of life, if our destiny and purpose is not of the world, just as it is with Jesus, then why are we preoccupied with the politics, economics, entertainments, values, priorities, and approval of the world? How have we gotten so side-tracked and distracted from the things of our Father, from our mission to the people of the world?

 

We are, after all, citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20), and our Lord Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world…My kingdom is not of this realm” (John 18:36). When we consider that Jesus is speaking to the Roman Empire in the person of Pontius Pilate, we ought to wonder why we don’t speak this same thing to the governments and political parties of our own time. Why don’t we make it clear to our generation that the Church of Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ, the People of Christ, are not of this world?

 

How is it that masses of Christians in our own country give themselves to agendas that are not of the Kingdom of God? How is that we have abandoned our calling in Christ to seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God? (Colossians 3:1 – 4), turning our attention and affection to the world…whether those things appear “good” or “bad”? When we do this, are we not eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil as opposed to the Tree of Life (Jesus Christ)?

 

On another note, Jesus says, “I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one” (17:15).

 

We are here on mission, our calling is to complete the mission, not to abandon it. We are here to grow up into Christ, to fully express Christ, and to bring the Gospel to humanity. We are here to participate in the Stone cut without hands filling all the earth (Daniel 2).  We are not here to escape hardship, persecution, trial, or tribulation. We are not here to be snatched away. We are here to overcome in Jesus Christ, for His glory and the glory of our Father; for the salvation of others. We are not to be taken out of the world, but to be protected from the evil one, and we can trust our God that we shall indeed be protected as we are kept in the Father’s Name (John 17:12; 6:39; 10:27 – 30).

 

Something is amiss when we focus on self-preservation and not laying down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16), our thinking and practice are awry when we are not giving ourselves so that those who believe in Jesus will not perish, but have enteral life (John 3:16).

 

Our calling in Christ is to grow up as the sons and daughters of our Father, it is to grow up into Christ as a Mature Man (Ephesians 4:14 – 16; Colossians 1:24 - 29), we are to be overcomers in Christ (see the overcomer passages of Revelation chapters 2 3, and Revelation 21:7), we are to know Him in the power of His resurrection and the koinonia of His sufferings, being conformed to His death (Phil. 3:10).

 

While Jesus says, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16) mission to the world is embedded in John 17. This can be an enigma until we see this passage in the eyes of the Holy Spirit. It can be confusing until we see the clear distinction Jesus is making, when He says that we are in the world but we are not “of the world.” We are traveling as aliens, as strangers in a strange land (Hebrews 11:8 – 16), but we are not simply “passing through,” we are on mission to the world, proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed, living as the Presence of Christ.

 

We’ll close this reflection with a hymn by Palmer Hartsough, I learned this as a lad and I still sing it:

 

 

I AM RESOLVED

 

I am resolved no longer to linger,

Charmed by the world’s delight,

Things that are higher, things that are nobler,

These have allured my sight.

 

Refrain:

I will hasten to Him,

Hasten so glad and free;

Jesus, greatest, highest,

I will come to Thee.

 

I am resolved to go to the Savior,

Leaving my sin and strife;

He is the true One, He is the just One,

He hath the words of life.

 

I am resolved to follow the Savior,

Faithful and true each day;

Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,

He is the living Way.

I am resolved to enter the kingdom,

Leaving the paths of sin;

Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,

Still will I enter in.

 

I am resolved, and who will go with me?

Come, friends, without delay;

Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,

We’ll walk the heav’nly way.