Set Apart in Truth
John 17:12-19
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our text for this morning comes from the Gospel lesson. Jesus is in the middle of his high priestly prayer, which is basically John 17. Here he talks about his disciples’ relationship with the World. Jesus has protected and taken care of them, but now he is going to die and wants to make sure they are not abandoned.
Jesus, therefore, builds on the way God has dealt with his people since the creation. Adam and Eve are made clearly different and distinct from all the other animals, or even creatures in creation. Likewise, God called Abraham to leave his family and set him apart from the people he lived with as he sojourned in a foreign land. Joseph in the land of Egypt lived a separate and distinct life. Jacob and his family were given the land of Goshen to remain separate from the Egyptians.
Even after the Israelites left Egypt many of the laws they were given, now referred to as ceremonial laws were all designed to remind the people to remain separate and distinct from the other nations. Many Christians today forget how the most common heresy in the Old Testament was Syncretism, or trying to harmonize the LORD God with other gods and other faiths. But even Jesus in his High Priestly Prayer is praying for his disciples to remain distinct and separate from the world in which they have to live.
Thus, we will look further at what it means to be “sanctified in the Truth.” Most of us would key in with Pilate and ask, “What is Truth [or the truth]?” But we already know that answer. Jesus is the Truth. The truth is the Word of God made flesh to die for the forgiveness of sins. This word can not be broken nor does God let it see corruption.
So the real question is not about what is truth, but what does it mean to be sanctified. And here the ESV actually helps us with a footnote. The footnote says: “Greek set them apart (for holy service to God).” So Jesus is not praying for the disciples to be holy in the sense of perfect or even justified. This is not saying that they should receive forgiveness, redemption, or justification in the truth or by means of the Word made flesh.
But Jesus is asking for them to be set apart from the rest of creation or the fallen world. He is praying for the Father to keep them separate and distinct from modern thought or cultural influences. He is likewise praying that as they live in the world, they would be set aside or consecrated for a particular task.
St Peter will talk about a holy nation and a royal priesthood. He says this as a precursor to them living as exiles and sojourners to abstain from passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. St Peter is calling us to live moral and honorable lives. Jesus is praying for his people to remain separate and distinct by what they say, do, and believe.
Jesus prays, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world,” (which we may think of as death,) “but that you keep them from the evil one” (or ruler of this world). Therefore, they should be separate from the rest of fallen creation, not of the world, just as Jesus himself is not of the world. St Paul talks about those of the man of dust and those belonging to the man of Heaven. Then Jesus asks the Father to set them apart in the truth identifying the truth of the Word of God.
Now with the assurance that whatever he asks his Father in Heaven he will receive it, Jesus continues, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” Jesus was sent into the world not to join the world, but to remain separate. He was sent not to become one with the world, but to help the world become one body with him. Jesus was sent to save the world. He was consecrated for the purpose of dying on the cross for your forgiveness.
Here the ESV gives us another footnote: “Or I sanctify myself; or I set myself apart (for holy service to God).” Just as Jesus set himself apart to save sinners, God has set you apart to save sinners. Just as Christ set himself apart to live a perfect or good life among the world, God has set you apart to live a moral life in the world.
Today, is not about me describing the perfect life you ought to live. Today rather is about reminding you that you are not to be like everyone else. You are not supposed to look and act like everyone else. Just because the majority says something is okay or right does not mean you get to accept it. You have been called by God to be set apart. You may not be a perfect person or the best example of Holy living, but you are still called to be set apart.
Abraham is a great example to us with respect to faith, but might not be the best example when it comes to lying, adultery, and stealing. King David likewise gives us a good picture of faith and being separate, but not so much of Holy living.
Thursday, June 25th was the 485th Anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession. The Princes of Germany bowed their necks to Emperor Charles V as they gave their confession of Faith. The Augsburg Confession separated the Lutherans from the Romans and likewise still today separates Lutheranism from the rest of the world. But all of these princes also confessed that they were sinful human beings.
Our confession of faith helps to keep us sanctified in the Truth. But it does not prevent us from evil living or false deeds. Thankfully, Jesus set himself apart for that task. He went to the cross to die for the forgiveness of our sins. He rescues us from the World and points us to a renewed creation yet to come. In Christ you are a separate and distinct people belonging to God. God has sanctified you in the truth, and is preparing you for the age to come in Jesus Christ. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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