Anchor My Faith

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Author: Stephen Weller
594 words, 3 minutes read time

Kept In the Father’s Name

Scripture: Jn 17:12-13

^{Jn 17:12} “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

In an Old Testament sense, “name” represents all that was true about the Father. In John 5:43, Jesus came in the Father’s name, which implies that he came in the authority of the Father. Those believers who were given to Jesus by the Father, Jesus claims to have kept them in the Father’s name; that is, he kept them in the authority given to him by the Father.

While with them on earth, Jesus guarded them and lost not one of them except Judas the son of destruction, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. The betrayal of Judas did not come as a surprise because he was chosen for that purpose as a means of getting Jesus arrested under the right conditions. This betrayal of Jesus was spoken of in Psalm 41:9 ESV: “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” Psalm 109:8 speaks of Judas that his days be few and then one day another will take his place as a disciple.

It is just a few hours before the cross and Jesus will leave his disciples, but while on earth Jesus taught the gospel and explained the way of salvation, and those who believe and are born spiritually will receive the Holy Spirit whose fruit is love and a characteristic of that love is joy (Galatians 5:22). Through his teaching and work that was finished on the cross, Jesus provided all that was needed for a person to experience a victorious and joyful life, but not necessarily free of suffering.

What might be another meaning of his joy. We are instructed, in Hebrews 12:1, to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” and as we do, we are to look “to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). That joy will be experienced by Jesus for an eternity as he enjoys those he died to provide salvation for.

Crucifixion was designed not only to cause great physical suffering but to also cause great shame. This was accomplished by crucifying one naked and in public, exposing one to prolonged pain leading to death. Crucifixion was widely believed to be the worst form of execution, due to the excruciating pain and public shame. Along with this, Jesus experienced the wrath of God because of our sin that he took from us, but he was willing to experience all of this because of the joy that would be his in his eternal relationship with us. This joy we will experience with him.

Conclusion

While on earth, Jesus kept and guarded those given to him by the Father. Those he receives through the great multitude of those who believe and are born spiritually, he will keep eternally secure, love them with an everlasting love, and please them with the kindness of his grace. Thinking about this should encourage us to endure any suffering we might face with joy as Jesus did.