John 17:12
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”
What does John 17:12 mean?
In his prayer before his arrest, Jesus is reflecting on his time with his disciples and affirming that he has protected and preserved them faithfully. He's speaking to God the Father about those who have truly followed him, saying that under his care they have remained spiritually safe and unharmed. The phrase "son of destruction" refers to Judas, whose betrayal was already written about in the Old Testament scriptures. Jesus isn't claiming he lost Judas in the same way, but rather acknowledging that Judas's departure was always part of God's plan as revealed in Scripture. There's a gentle sorrow in these words, since Jesus knew from the beginning that one of the twelve would turn against him. What makes this verse comforting for many people is the sense that Jesus took his responsibility for his followers seriously and held them close, even in the face of coming difficulty. It suggests that those who genuinely belong to him are held securely in God's care.