John 17
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1Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; 2even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 4I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. 5Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed. 6I 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. 7Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you, 8for 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, and they have believed that you sent me. 9I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11I 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. 12While 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. 13But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. 14I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. 19For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, 21that 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. 22The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; 23I 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. 24Father, 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. 25Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. 26I 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.”
World English Bible (public domain)
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,”
John 17:20
Summary
John chapter 17 presents Jesus’ profound prayer often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer. This chapter unfolds in three main sections: first, Jesus prays for Himself, acknowledging His divine authority and purpose, asking the Father to glorify Him as He has glorified the Father. In the second section, He prays for His disciples, emphasizing their protection and sanctification as they are sent into the world. Jesus expresses His desire for them to experience the same unity with Him and the Father that He shares, highlighting the importance of their mission and the preservation of their faith. Finally, Jesus extends His prayer to future believers, pleading for unity among all His followers, demonstrating His desire that they may reflect the love and oneness found in the Godhead, and ultimately be with Him in glory. The theological significance of this chapter encompasses themes of glorification, the mission of discipleship, unity, and the deep connection between Jesus, the Father, and believers, showcasing an intimate glimpse of Jesus' heart for humanity.
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Chapter outline
How John 17 unfolds
John 17:1–5 Jesus Prays for His Glorification
Jesus lifts His eyes to heaven, requesting the Father to glorify Him so He can glorify the Father, emphasizing His divine authority and pre-existence.
John 17:6–10 Jesus Prays for His Disciples
He acknowledges the disciples as those given to Him, affirming their faith and the shared ownership between Him and the Father.
John 17:11–19 Prayer for Protection and Sanctification
Jesus asks the Father to protect and sanctify the disciples as they remain in the world, highlighting their unity and mission.
John 17:20–23 Prayer for Future Believers
Jesus extends His prayer to all future believers, desiring their unity to reflect the oneness between Himself and the Father.
John 17:24–26 Desire for Eternal Fellowship
He expresses His wish for believers to be with Him in glory, concluding with a declaration of His ongoing revelation of the Father’s name.
Key verses
John 17:20John 17:20 encapsulates the chapter's emphasis on unity among believers as a reflection of divine connection.
Main themes in John 17
Prayer
Prayer in this chapter is manifested through Jesus’ intimate conversation with the Father, especially in verses 1-5. In this moment, Jesus articulates His mission and the glory He shares with the Father, demonstrating a profound connection that serves as a model of intercessory prayer. The overall movement of the chapter emphasizes the vital role of prayer in nurturing the believer's relationship with God, inviting them into deeper communion and understanding of His will.
Explore prayer in the Bible →Unity
Unity is a central theme, particularly in Jesus' prayer for His disciples and future believers in verses 21-23. He desires that they share the same oneness that He has with the Father, underscoring the communal aspect of faith. This unity serves as a witness to the world of Jesus’ divine mission.
Discipleship
Discipleship surfaces in Jesus' prayers for His followers, particularly in verses 11-19, where He expresses deep concern for their well-being and mission. He highlights the challenges they will face in the world and emphasizes their need for protection and sanctification as they carry forward His teachings. This aspect of the chapter underscores the significant responsibilities of believers to embody and share the message of Jesus with future generations, reinforcing the continuity of faith.
Divine Glory
Divine glory is a recurring theme, particularly in Jesus’ request for glorification in verses 1-5. He connects His glory with the Father’s glory, showing that their relationship is foundational to understanding His mission. The chapter ultimately reveals how believers are also invited into this glory through their connection to Christ.
Cross-references
Passages that echo John 17
- Romans 8Both passages highlight the believers' assurance in their relationship with God and the promise of eternal life.
- John 14This passage connects with themes of knowing God and the relational aspect between the Father and Son.
- John 1Both texts emphasize the revelation of God through Jesus, underscoring His divine identity.
- John 8This connects through themes of truth and the identity of Jesus as the one sent by God.
- John 15Themes of unity and the believer's relationship with Christ echo strongly in both chapters.
- 1 John 5This passage connects in its discussion about knowing God and the assurance of eternal life through faith.
Study questions
Questions for studying John 17
- What does Jesus ask for Himself in verses 1-5?
- How does Jesus describe eternal life in verse 3?
- In what ways does Jesus emphasize unity in His prayer?
- What role do the disciples play in the mission described in verses 18-19?
- How does the concept of sanctification appear in this chapter?
- Why is Jesus' prayer for future believers significant?
- What does the relationship between the Father and the Son reveal about God’s nature?
John 17: frequently asked questions
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