Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 17:18

"As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world." — John 17:18 (ASV)

As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

This is the original Missionary Society, and the model for all others; Christ sent, missioned by the Father, and every saint missioned by Christ. Are you carrying out your mission, O you people of God? How dare you call yourselves by that name if you have no mission to anybody? If you are living here for yourself alone, how can you belong to Christ, who never lived a moment for himself, but always lived wholly for others?

As you have sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Christ was the sent One, and every Christian is also sent. All believers should be missionaries, sent forth on a mission to bless humankind.

As you have sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

They are sent ones, just as Christ was the Sent One. As he is the Christ, they are Christians, anointed with the same anointing as he himself is, and they should endeavor to be in all respects missionaries to the world, just as Christ was God's great Missionary to the lost.