John 17
Jesus prays to be glorified
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Jesus looks up to heaven and prays. The hour has come, he says; he asks the Father to glorify the Son so that the Son may glorify the Father. He has finished the work he was given, and asks to share again the glory he had with the Father before the world existed.
What does this mean?
"Glorify" means to reveal someone's greatness or honour, and in John it is tied to Jesus' death and resurrection. "All flesh" means all humanity. Verse 3 defines eternal life as knowing God and the one he sent, not simply living for ever.
Historical context
Chapter 17 has often been called Jesus' "High Priestly Prayer" since the sixteenth century, because in it he intercedes for his followers as a priest prays for the people.
Why does it matter?
The prayer looks back to the prologue: the glory "before the world existed" recalls the Word who was with God in the beginning (1:1). Jesus' statement that he has finished his work anticipates his last word on the cross, "It is finished" (19:30).
Editorial notes, not scripture.