John 17 (WEB)

John 17:1–5

Jesus prays to be glorified

Jesus said these things, then lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.

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.

John 17:6–19

Jesus prays for his disciples

“I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you, for the words which you have given me I have given to them; and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have kept those whom you have given me. None of them is lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

Jesus prays for the disciples the Father gave him, who have received his words and believed. Because he is leaving the world and they remain in it, he asks the Father to protect them, keep them united and guard them from the evil one. He sends them into the world as the Father sent him.

What does this mean?

"Son of perdition" (KJV) or "son of destruction" (WEB) is a Hebrew-style expression for someone destined for ruin; here it refers to Judas. "Sanctify" means to set apart for God. "The evil one" means the devil.

Historical context

In the Old Testament, priests, the people of Israel and sacred objects were "sanctified" or consecrated, set apart for God's service. Jesus applies this language to himself and to his followers.

Why does it matter?

The disciples are to be "not of the world" yet sent into it, a tension that runs through John's view of Jesus' followers. The theme of being sent, which has described Jesus throughout the Gospel, now passes to the disciples and is fulfilled in 20:21.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

John 17:20–26

Jesus prays for all who will believe

“Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. The glory which you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one, I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Jesus extends his prayer to those who will believe through the disciples' message. He asks that they may all be one, as he and the Father are one, so that the world may believe the Father sent him. He asks that they may be with him and see his glory, and that the Father's love may be in them.

What does this mean?

"Made perfect in one" (KJV) or "perfected into one" (WEB) means brought to complete unity. "Foundation of the world" means its creation.

Historical context

The Gospel was written for readers decades after Jesus' ministry, so this part of the prayer speaks directly about people in the writer's own time and later.

Why does it matter?

The words "that they may all be one" have become a watchword for movements seeking unity among divided Christian churches. The prayer ends where the Gospel began, with love, glory and making the Father known.

Editorial notes, not scripture.