And now I am no more in the world
In the earth; which is no contradiction to his resurrection from
the dead, and stay with his disciples for a while; nor to his
return to judge the world at the last day; nor to his reigning on
earth with his saints a thousand years; since it will not be the
world as it now is, but it will be a new earth, renewed, purified
and refined, and clear of the wicked inhabitants of it; and in
which will only dwell righteous persons: besides, Christ was to
be, and will be no more in the world, in such circumstances, and
doing such work as he then was: the meaning is, that whereas he
had been in the world, and had done, or as good as done the work
he came about, he was now just going out of it; it was but a very
little while he had to stay in it; nor should he continue long
with his disciples when he rose from the dead; and whereas his
bodily presence had been a guard unto them, a protection of them,
and he had bore the heat and burden of the day for them, and had
took all reproaches and persecutions upon himself, now he was
going from them:
but these are in the world;
and will continue for some time, they having much work to do, and
be exposed to the evils, snares and temptations of it; where they
were hated, and were liable to great hardships, afflictions and
persecutions; which shows that Christ was not so intent on his
own glory, as to neglect the good of his people, and to be
unconcerned for them:
and I come to thee;
signifying his death; the deposition of his soul into his
Father's hands; his ascension in soul and body to him; his
entrance into heaven, and session at the right hand of God; and
therefore had nothing to ask for on his own account: but his
disciples he was parting with lay near his heart, and therefore
he prays;
holy Father, keep, through thine own name, those whom thou
hast
given me:
the person prayed unto is God the Father, the Father of Christ,
and of his people; a very proper relation to consider God in and
under in prayer to him: since it must give freedom, boldness, and
hope of success: the epithet "holy" is exceeding suitable, as it
perfectly agrees with him who is essentially so; and since it was
holiness and an increase of it Christ prays for; and that there
his disciples might be kept from the evil of sin: the persons
prayed for are those that were given to Christ in election, and
in the covenant, to be kept by him, and therefore he is the more
solicitous for their preservation: his request is, that his
Father would keep them from the evil of the world; from sinking
under temptations and afflictions; faithful to him and to his
Gospel, and in unity among themselves; and that "through" or "in"
his own name; in it, in the doctrine of the Gospel, and in the
worship of God, and profession of him; "through" it, through
himself, as a wall of fire about them, and by his power through
faith unto salvation:
that they may be one as we are;
in nature, will, affection and understanding; which must be
understood not of equality, but of likeness; and designs not
their union to Christ, but to one another; abiding together,
cleaving to each other, standing fast in one Spirit, having the
same designs, and the interest of a Redeemer in view, and at
heart.