Read John 17 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
Joh 17:1-26 Chiastic Structure:
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Joh 16:33
“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 pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctity them through Your truth; Your word is truth.” Joh 17:14-17
How are the disciples kept from the evil one, when they have tribulation in the world?
When we expect that because we are disciples, nothing bad will ever happen, we are setting ourselves up to be taken by, not kept from, the evil one. His weapon is lies; he feeds our false expectations so that if we become bitter when they are not met, he has an open door to ensnare us. Our safeguard is truth, the complete opposite of his lies.
We live in a fallen world, and bad things and tribulation is bound to happen. But, Jesus has overcome the world. He has overcome every bad thing or tribulation that could ever happen. Even if they kill the body, they have just hastened our eternal life in the presence of God and of glory. And His word – the truth – is like a pharmacy which corrects every lie that exists, and every ill that plagues the world. We plant our feet in His word, in the truth, and do not move from it, no matter what the world or what our circumstances are doing around us. Thus we are kept from the evil one.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Training to believe and feel truth – Christine Miller
God’s word is unfailing – Christine Miller
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