Holiness: The distinguishing mark of Jesus’ disciples is the place the word of God has in their lives. Jesus says of them that He gave them His word (17:14), not merely that He offered it to them but that He effectively gave it to them—they received the word and kept it (17:6, 8; Matt. 11:27). God’s word is what sets the elect apart from the world because they hold fast to the truth while the world remains in deception (8:23, 44; 17:15). The hallmark of true conversion is the word of God. All who follow Christ seek, study, know, remember, obey, uphold, and proclaim the word of God. This devotion to the truth is what separates us from the world,[1] and Jesus prays for this holiness (17:17).[2]

Usefulness: Jesus has a mission for His people on earth. He sent the twelve that we today might hear the word and be converted (17:20). Likewise, He uses us to lead the world to know and believe in Him also (17:21, 23). Even as Jesus was sent to redeem man through His atoning sacrifice; the apostles were sent to redeem man through the word of God (17:20). That work of God continues today. Our mission on earth is redemptive like that of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus is the foundation of redemption which the apostles laid and we build on that foundation.[3] We make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20) who are reconciled to God in Christ.[4] Toward this end, Jesus prays that we be holy, because only sanctified men can lead sinners to the holy and righteous Father. If we be unsanctified, we speak with hypocrisy and without power, because the gospel has no power in our own lives. If we be disciple-makers, we must be holy.

[1] Cf. Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:3-5; 1 John 5:19.

[2] Holiness is best seen in the one person who is the truth and lived by the truth, Jesus (cf. 14:6; Heb. 7:26).

[3] Cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-11, 16-17; Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:4-5

[4] Reconciliation to God isn’t finished until we are sanctified: 2 Cor. 5:15, 17-18, 20; 6:1-2; 16-7:1; Col. 1:21-29.