Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 17:16-18

"They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth. As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world." — John 17:16-18 (ASV)

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

As the Father took Jesus from the bosom of His love and instructed Him to go as His missionary to humanity, so Jesus keeps us for a while away from the bosom of His glory so that we may remain here to be missionaries among our fellow human beings. Are we fulfilling our calling?

Are we justifying the commission which Christ has laid upon us?

Oh, that we were doing so to the fullest extent possible for us!

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Do you recognize your mission, dear friends? Do we all understand it?

– that, as truly as Christ was the messenger of the Father, so every believer is the messenger of Christ. You are sent into this world to do an errand, not for yourselves, but for your Master. Are you doing it?