John 17:18
As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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John 17:18
As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's easy to miss here is that Jesus isn't just saying his followers have a similar task as he did; he's highlighting that their authority and mission are directly linked to his. He sent them with the same divine backing and purpose that the Father sent him, making their commission an extension of his own.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, asking the Father to protect them as they continue his mission in a world that hates them. He explains that their separation from the world, like his own, is the reason for this opposition. He then declares that just as the Father sent him, he is now sending his disciples into the world to carry out his work.
Jesus isn't just praying for His followers; He's commissioning them. What does it mean that His mission from the Father is the model for theirs?
A Shared Divine Mandate
Jesus states in verse 18, 'As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.' This isn't a casual comparison; it's a profound declaration of a shared divine purpose. The Father sent Jesus with a specific mission – to reveal God, reconcile humanity, and establish His kingdom. In the same way, Jesus commissions His disciples, and by extension, all believers, to carry on His work in the world.
The Pattern of the Sending
Jesus knew His disciples wouldn't be taken out of the world. So why send them into it, knowing it would hate them?
The Missionary Identity
Jesus makes it clear in this prayer that His followers are not meant to be removed from the world. He says in John 17:15, 'I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.' And then, in verse 18, He states, 'As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.'
Navigating a Hostile World
c. AD 27-28— this verse
Jesus Commissions the Twelve Apostles
Jesus officially appoints and sends out the twelve apostles with specific instructions to preach the gospel and perform miracles. This marks the beginning of their formal mission.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Ministry Continues
Throughout his ministry, Jesus consistently emphasizes his divine mission and the authority given to him by the Father, which he in turn shares with his disciples.
c. AD 30
The Last Supper and Prayer
Jesus shares his final meal with his disciples, offering this profound prayer in John 17, a prayer that encapsulates his relationship with the Father and his hopes for his followers.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection fulfill his mission and pave the way for the Holy Spirit to empower the disciples for their continued mission.
c. AD 33
The Great Commission
This passage directly parallels Jesus' commission to his disciples, echoing the 'sending' motif found in John 17:18 by commanding them to go and make disciples of all nations. It shows the practical outworking of the prayer Jesus offers in John 17, extending His mission through them.
John 20:21Jesus explicitly tells his disciples, 'As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you,' directly mirroring the language and concept in John 17:18. This verse highlights the continuity and divine authority of the disciples' mission, derived from Christ's own.
1 John 4:17This verse speaks of believers having 'boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world.' It reflects the idea that believers share in Christ's status and mission in the world, much like Jesus' statement that 'as you sent me, I am sending them.'
Acts 1:8Jesus promises the disciples they will be 'my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,' which is a direct instruction for their mission. This passage exemplifies the 'sending' described in John 17:18, showing how the disciples are empowered to carry on Christ's work.
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.
What's easy to miss here is that Jesus isn't just saying his followers have a similar task as he did; he's highlighting that their authority and mission are directly linked to his. He sent them with the same divine backing and purpose that the Father sent him, making their commission an extension of his own.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, asking the Father to protect them as they continue his mission in a world that hates them. He explains that their separation from the world, like his own, is the reason for this opposition. He then declares that just as the Father sent him, he is now sending his disciples into the world to carry out his work.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, asking the Father to protect them as they continue his mission in a world that hates them. He explains that their separation from the world, like his own, is the reason for this opposition. He then declares that just as the Father sent him, he is now sending his disciples into the world to carry out his work.
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After his resurrection, Jesus reiterates and expands the disciples' mission, commanding them to go and make disciples of all nations. This is a renewal and confirmation of their apostolic calling.
c. AD 30s onwards
The Early Church Spreads the Gospel
The apostles and early believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, carry out the mission Jesus entrusted to them, spreading his message throughout the known world despite facing persecution.
"As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." — What's easy to miss here is that Jesus isn't just saying his followers have a similar task as he did; he's highlighting that their authority and mission are directly linked to his. He sent them wit…