John 17: Jesus assigns His mission to His disciples

Abstract

In this paper it will be pointed out that Jesus did not commission his disciples with a new mission, but instructed them to continue and extend his own mission. This implies that in their following of Jesus, they would adopt a new way of life which related to Jesus’ way of life. The departure of Jesus gave his disciples the opportunity to take his place in the world. Through this new way of life (discipleship) Jesus would live in them and they in him.