As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just passing along a task; He's declaring that His followers share the same authoritative mandate He received from the Father. Their mission carries the same divine weight and purpose as His own, making them His emissaries into the world.
As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is praying for his disciples, acknowledging that they are not of this world and will face its hatred, just as He did. He's asking the Father to protect them while they remain in the world, and to set them apart through His truth. This verse highlights the continuation of Jesus' mission through His followers.
Jesus doesn't just ask the Father to protect His followers; He declares they are on a mission just like His. What does this shared purpose mean for us?
In John 17:18, Jesus draws a powerful parallel: 'As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.' This isn't just a casual comparison; it's the very heart of the disciples' calling.
A Mirror Image of Mission
This means that followers of Jesus aren't just passive recipients of grace; they are active participants in God's redemptive plan. Our lives are meant to reflect the purpose for which Christ was sent.
Jesus says His disciples are sent into the world, but also that they are not of the world. How can we be both engaged and set apart?
The context surrounding verse 18 highlights a crucial paradox for believers: we are sent into the world, yet we don't belong to it. Jesus prays, 'They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world' (John 17:16).
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Engaged, Not Entangled
This verse echoes Jesus' own divine commission from the Father and emphasizes the continuity and authority of the apostles' mission, which is to carry on His work in the world.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus commissions the Twelve Apostles
Jesus officially appoints and sends out the twelve apostles, granting them authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons, marking the beginning of their active ministry.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' earthly ministry and teaching
Jesus continues His public ministry, teaching, healing, and preparing His disciples for their future role, culminating in His crucifixion and resurrection.
c. AD 30
Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection
The pivotal event of Jesus' sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection, which secures the foundation for the apostles' mission and empowers their ministry.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' final teachings and the Upper Room Discourse
In His final hours, Jesus delivers profound teachings to His disciples, including the 'Upper Room Discourse' found in John 13-17, preparing them for His departure and their mission.
c. AD 33
The Great Commission
After His resurrection, Jesus gives the apostles their final mandate to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them, thereby fully launching their global mission.
c. AD 33
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, empowering them with divine ability to carry out the mission Jesus entrusted to them, enabling them to speak in other languages and boldly proclaim the Gospel.
This passage records Jesus' 'Great Commission' to his disciples, directly echoing the sending of the disciples that is foundational to John 17:18. It shows the scope and authority of the mission Jesus entrusts to them.
John 20:21Jesus explicitly states to his disciples, 'As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' This verse is a direct parallel, reinforcing the idea that the disciples' mission mirrors Christ's own, as he stated in John 17:18.
1 Peter 1:1Peter identifies himself and his readers as 'elect exiles scattered' and 'chosen according to the foreknowledge of God.' This reflects the 'sent into the world' aspect, highlighting that believers are set apart and sent into a world that is not their home.
Acts 1:8Jesus tells his disciples they will be his 'witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' This passage elaborates on the 'sent into the world' commission, detailing the geographical and spiritual reach of their mission.
cambridgeJohn 17:18: "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world."
18 . As thou hast sent ] Better, Even as Thou didst send . Comp. John 10:36 . even so have I also sent ] Better, I also did send . Comp. John 20:21 , John 15:9 . The Apostles had already received their commission ( Matthew 10:5-15 ; Mark 6:7 ; Luke 9:2-5 ), which is about to be renewed.
jfbJohn 17:18: "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world."
- As thou hast sent—sentest.me into the world, even so have I also sent them—sent I also them.into the world—As their mission was to carry into effect the purposes of their Master's mission, so our Lord speaks of the authority in both cases as co-ordinate.
Jesus isn't just passing along a task; He's declaring that His followers share the same authoritative mandate He received from the Father. Their mission carries the same divine weight and purpose as His own, making them His emissaries into the world.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, acknowledging that they are not of this world and will face its hatred, just as He did. He's asking the Father to protect them while they remain in the world, and to set them apart through His truth. This verse highlights the continuation of Jesus' mission through His followers.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, acknowledging that they are not of this world and will face its hatred, just as He did. He's asking the Father to protect them while they remain in the world, and to set them apart through His truth. This verse highlights the continuation of Jesus' mission through His followers.
"As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." — Jesus isn't just passing along a task; He's declaring that His followers share the same authoritative mandate He received from the Father. Their mission carries the same divine weight and purpose a…
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Last reviewed October 2026