Summary4 min read

The Daily Blade: Episode #176

“Jesus Prays for His Disciples’ Mission” (John 17:13-19)

Hosts: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
Date: September 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson focus on John 17:13-19, unpacking the section of Jesus’ high priestly prayer where He asks the Father to equip His disciples for their mission in the world. The hosts break down each verse, offering practical and pastoral insights on how Christians are to live as sanctified people, not removed from the world’s challenges but protected and set apart within them.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The High Priestly Prayer: Context

Kyle Thompson opens by recapping their ongoing devotional series on John 17, focusing today on Jesus’ prayer for His disciples’ mission (00:20).

Verse-by-Verse Breakdown

John 17:13 – The Promise of Joy

“But now I am coming to you… that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”
- Jesus speaks these words aloud so His disciples can hear and cling to joy during impending sorrows.
- Kyle: “He wants to hammer home that what is to come should fill them with joy. Right? So this actually echoes John 16 where Jesus said that the disciples’ sorrow would be traded for joy.” (01:15)

John 17:14 – Given the Word, Hated by the World

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world…”
- Jesus shares divine revelation openly with the disciples.
- Host recalls previous warnings (John 15) that allegiance to Christ will provoke hatred.
- Kyle: “Allegiance to Christ separates the believers from the world around them, but it simultaneously makes them a target of hatred for the world as well.” (02:16)

John 17:15 – Kept from the Evil One, Not Removed

“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”
- Kyle: “How many times have Joby and I screamed at you about being in isolation? … Satan loves when we are isolated.”
- Parallel to Psalm 23 – God’s presence amid trials, not always deliverance from them.
- Kyle: “It's not that God delivers us from the valley of the shadow of death. It’s that God is with us in the valley.” (03:06)

John 17:16 – Not of the World

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
- Repetition underscores the Christian’s identity as foreigners here, modeled after Jesus Himself.

John 17:17 – Sanctified by the Truth

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
- Sanctification is being set apart, made holy—it happens by immersing in God’s word.
- Kyle: “It’s by the word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, right? The Bible isn’t just true. It is capital T, Truth itself.” (03:40)

John 17:18 – Sent Into the World

“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
- Jesus doesn’t shelter His disciples but commissions them for active engagement.
- Kyle: “Their calling is not to remove themselves from the world that hates them. That is precisely where Jesus tells them to go.” (04:02)

John 17:19 – Consecrated for Their Sake

“For their sake I consecrate myself, that they may also be sanctified in truth.”
- Jesus dedicates Himself to His impending sacrifice so His followers might be truly sanctified.
- Kyle: “The only way that sanctification can occur is by the sacrifice that he is about to make.” (04:30)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

“How many times have Joby and I screamed at you about being in isolation? ... Satan loves when we are isolated.”
— Kyle Thompson (03:00)
“The Bible isn’t just true. It is capital T, Truth itself.”
— Kyle Thompson (03:40)
“The only way that sanctification can occur is by the sacrifice that he is about to make.”
— Kyle Thompson (04:30)

Reflection & Challenge

Kyle closes with a challenge:
- “Are you spending enough time absorbing the word of God so that it shapes and molds you in the ways of capital T, truth? If not, you need to fix that.” (04:47)
- He encourages listeners to read John 17 every day this week and return for the next episode on Jesus’ prayer for all believers.

Important Timestamps

00:20 — Introduction to John 17:13-19 and context
01:15 — Reflection on joy in Jesus’ words
02:16 — The world’s hatred and believer's separation
03:00 — Importance of Christian community and avoiding isolation
03:40 — Sanctification by God’s Word as the ultimate truth
04:02 — The disciples' mission in the world
04:30 — Jesus’ consecration and sacrifice
04:47 — Final encouragement and challenge

Tone and Final Thoughts

The discussion is earnest, sharp, and devotional, consistently urging men to stay engaged in God’s Word and grounded in their mission, even amidst opposition. The hosts translate complex theological concepts into practical encouragement, suitable for everyday Christian living.

For more resources or to connect with the hosts, listeners are directed to their church communication channels and invited back for the next episode.

Loading summary

Transcript3 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson. And they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
[00:21]
B
Welcome back. This week we are spending our time digging into the high priestly prayer of Jesus has recorded by the apostle John in John 17. So yesterday we looked at verses 6 through 12 where Jesus was praying for the preservation of his disciples. And today we'll look at verses 13 through 19 where Jesus prays for the mission of the disciples. I'll read it now. But now I am coming to you. And these things I speak in the world that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I've given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself that they may also be sanctified in truth. Okay, so let's go ahead and break it down. Verse 13. But now I am coming to you. So Jesus is referring to a place beyond the cross, to his eventual ascension back to the heavenlies. And these things I speak in the world that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. So Jesus is saying this out loud so that the disciples hear him. He wants to hammer home that what is to come should fill them with joy. Right? So this actually echoes John 16 where Jesus said that the disciples sorrow would be traded for joy. Now verse 14. I have given them your word. So this is divine revelation. And it was not kept from the disciples. It was actually earnestly shared with them by Jesus. And the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. So this actually echoes Jesus in John 15, essentially expressing to the disciples that hatred would definitely come their way. There's no question about it. There's no escape from it. Allegiance to Christ separates the believers from the world around them, but it simultaneously makes them a target of hatred for the world as well. So now verse 15. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. So guys, how many times Have Joby and I screamed at you about being in isolation? Okay? I mean, we do that because Satan loves when we are isolated, right? And here, Jesus isn't praying for God to deliver his disciples from the world, right? He is praying that God would protect them from the schemes of Satan. So it's just like in Psalm 23. A lot of people miss this. The point of Psalm 23 is not that God delivers us from the valley of the shadow of death. It's that God is with us in the valley, and all of us are either in it, about to leave it, or about to enter it. So verse 16. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. So this is a, you know, repeat or a call back to verse 14. Jesus's disciples, just like Jesus himself, are strangers in this world. Verse 17. Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth. So sanctification is the process where one is set apart or made holy. So how are we sanctified? It's by the word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, right? The whole point of this podcast and the Bible isn't just true. It is capital T, truth itself. Now verse 18. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. So again, God sent Jesus here. And then Jesus didn't just guard the disciples, right? He won't eventually just put his arms around them so that they can all ascend with him to heaven. He sends them out. Their calling is not to remove themselves from the world that hates them. That is precisely where Jesus tells them to go. And now verse 19. And for their sake, I consecrate myself. So consecration is where you are formally dedicated to a divine purpose. And Jesus is dedicating himself to the process of crucified crucifixion that they also may be sanctified in truth. So the only way that is even possible is if Jesus intercedes, right? He has to atone for the sins of all humanity so that holiness is possible. The only way that sanctification can occur is by the sacrifice that he is about to make. So I'll leave you with this question to think on today. Are you spending enough time absorbing the word of God so that it shapes and molds you in the ways of capital T, truth? If not, you need to fix that. All right, guys, you need to go read John 17 every day this week. Come back tomorrow where we'll get into Jesus praying for all believers.
[05:01]
A
Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help equip other men for the fight. Share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.