John 17:19 - Prayer for the Disciples

For them I sanctify Myself
In this phrase, Jesus speaks of His dedication to the mission given by the Father. The term "sanctify" means to set apart for a holy purpose. Jesus, though sinless, sets Himself apart for the work of redemption. This act is a fulfillment of His role as the High Priest, as seen in Hebrews 7:26-27, where He offers Himself as a sacrifice. The context of this statement is the Upper Room Discourse, where Jesus prays for His disciples, emphasizing His role in their spiritual journey. The sanctification of Jesus is a precursor to His crucifixion, where He fully dedicates Himself to the will of God for the salvation of humanity.

so that they too may be sanctified
The purpose of Jesus' sanctification is for the benefit of His followers. The disciples, and by extension all believers, are to be set apart for God's purposes. This reflects the call to holiness found in Leviticus 20:7-8, where God commands His people to be holy as He is holy. The sanctification of believers is a process of being made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. This phrase underscores the transformative power of Jesus' sacrifice, enabling believers to live lives that reflect God's holiness.

by the truth
The truth here refers to the Word of God, as Jesus previously stated in John 17:17, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." The truth is the divine revelation found in Scripture, which guides and transforms believers. This aligns with Jesus' declaration in John 14:6, where He states, "I am the way and the truth and the life." The truth is not only a set of doctrines but is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. The sanctification of believers is achieved through their relationship with Christ and adherence to His teachings, which are the ultimate truth.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is praying to the Father on behalf of His disciples. He is the central figure in this passage, emphasizing His role in sanctification.

2. Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' prayer. They are the ones for whom Jesus sanctifies Himself, indicating their need for sanctification to fulfill their mission.

3. Sanctification
A key event and process in this verse, referring to being set apart for holy purposes. Jesus' sanctification is both an act and a model for His followers.

4. The Truth
Represents the Word of God and the reality of God's nature and purposes. It is the means by which the disciples are sanctified.

5. The Upper Room
The setting of this prayer, part of Jesus' farewell discourse, where He prepares His disciples for His impending departure.

Teaching Points

The Model of Sanctification
Jesus sanctifies Himself as a model for His followers. Believers are called to follow His example by living lives set apart for God's purposes.

The Role of Truth
Sanctification is achieved through the truth of God's Word. Believers must immerse themselves in Scripture to be transformed and set apart.

Purposeful Living
Sanctification is not an end in itself but a means to fulfill God's mission. Believers are sanctified to be effective witnesses in the world.

Holiness in Daily Life
Sanctification involves daily choices to live according to God's standards, reflecting His holiness in every aspect of life.

Dependence on Christ
Jesus' prayer highlights the necessity of relying on His work and truth for sanctification, reminding believers of their dependence on Him.

(19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself.--Comp. Note on John 17:17. The consecration here thought of is that to the work which was immediately before Him--the offering Himself as a sacrifice. The word was in frequent use in the special sense of an offering or sacrifice set apart to God. As a New Testament example of this, comp. Romans 15:16. By this consecration of Himself--which in a wider sense is for all men, but in the special sense is "for their sakes"--He will, as both Priest and Sacrifice, enter into the Holy of Holies of the heavenly temple, and will send the Holy Ghost, who will consecrate them.

That they also might be sanctified through the truth.--Better, as in the margin, . . . . might be truly sanctified. The words "they also" are emphatic, answering to "their sakes" and "myself" in the preceding clause.

Verse 19. - And for their sakes - on their behalf - I sanctify, consecrate, myself. The Father had consecrated him and sent him into the world, but over and above all this there were special and sacrificial acts of love and devotion which he made on behalf of his own. He went up voluntarily into the wilderness to be tempted for them; he wrought for them while it was yet day. He now was ready to commend himself to the supreme will of the Father, and to offer himself through the Spirit in his perfected humanity without spot of sin to God. Ἁγιάζω is equivalent προσφέρω σοὶ θυσίαν, as Chrysostom says, and it is used for הִקְדִּישׁ (Exodus 13:2; Deuteronomy 15:19). Christ is the Priest and the Victim, and the dedication of himself to this climax of his consecrated life is for the sake of the disciples (so Lange, Meyer, Godet, and Westcott). That they also may be sanctified indeed - truly or veritably.

(1) We have to notice that the passive form of the second clause shows that that which the Lord, in its highest form, effects for himself, they receive as a work wrought in them by another.

(2) Using the word ἁγιάζειν in the same sense in both clauses, the consecration effected in the disciples must correspond with Christ's consecration in self-sacrificial love, in abandonment to the power of the Word which has revolutionized their whole being, in entire equipment for their calling, even to the point of hatred and antagonism from the world, and death for his sake. They are indeed to drink of his cup, and be baptized with his baptism. They must be crucified with him and buried with him, and rise again with him, in the activity of their faith.

(3) Ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, without the article, has the sense of "verily and indeed" (Matthew 22:16; 2 Corinthians 7:14; 1 John 3:18, etc.). It is not certain that 2 John I or 3 John I can be thus translated, but the classical usage of this phrase, and also of ἐπ ἀληθείας, leaves little doubt about its use here. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

For
ὑπὲρ (hyper)
Preposition
Strong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.

them
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

sanctify
ἁγιάζω (hagiazō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 37: From hagios; to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate; to venerate.

Myself,
ἐμαυτόν (emauton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1683: Genitive case compound of emou and autos; of myself so likewise the dative case emautoi em-ow-to', and accusative case emauton em-ow-ton'.

so that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

they
αὐτοὶ (autoi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

too
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

may be
ὦσιν (ōsin)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

sanctified
ἡγιασμένοι (hēgiasmenoi)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 37: From hagios; to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate; to venerate.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] truth.
ἀληθείᾳ (alētheia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 225: From alethes; truth.

Links

John 17:19 NIV
John 17:19 NLT
John 17:19 ESV
John 17:19 NASB
John 17:19 KJVJohn 17:19 BibleApps.com
John 17:19 Biblia Paralela
John 17:19 Chinese Bible
John 17:19 French Bible
John 17:19 Catholic BibleNT Gospels: John 17:19 For their sakes I sanctify myself that (Jhn Jo Jn)