John Chapter 17 — The High Priestly Prayer
Jesus prays to the Father for His own glorification, the protection of His disciples, and the future unity of all who will believe in Him.
1Jesus 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;
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.
6“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.
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. 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. 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.
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.✡Psalms 119:142
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.
20“Not 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.”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
John 17:3
“This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”
This verse provides a specific definition of eternal life as the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.
John 17:17
“Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.”
Jesus emphasizes that the word of God is the source of sanctification for believers.
John 17:21
“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.”
This verse highlights the central theme of unity among believers as a witness to the world.
Chapter Summary
In John 17, Jesus concludes His final discourse with a prayer to the Father. He begins by asking for glorification so that He may glorify the Father, noting that He has finished the work assigned to Him. Jesus then focuses on His disciples, whom He kept and taught while in the world. He prays for their protection from the evil one and asks that they be sanctified by the truth of God’s word. Finally, Jesus expands His prayer to include all future believers. He emphasizes the importance of unity among His followers, desiring that they be one just as He and the Father are one. This unity is intended to show the world that the Father sent the Son. Jesus concludes by expressing His desire for His followers to see His glory and to experience the love of God within themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jesus prays for three main things: His own glorification, the sanctification and protection of His disciples, and the unity of all future believers. He asks that His followers remain faithful and united despite being in the world.
Jesus defines eternal life not just as duration of time, but as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. This knowledge is presented as a relationship and a recognition of divine truth.
Jesus notes that His disciples are in the world but not of the world, leading the world to hate them. He prays not for their removal from the world, but for their protection from the evil one while they are in it.
Jesus asks for unity among believers so that they may be one just as He and the Father are one. He explains that this visible unity serves as evidence to the world that God sent Him.
Study Note
This chapter is often referred to as the 'High Priestly Prayer' because Jesus intercedes for His followers as a mediator before His sacrifice.
Related Chapters
John Chapter 1
Both chapters emphasize the pre-existence of Jesus and His glory with the Father before the world began.
Psalm 119
Jesus' statement that God's word is truth reflects the sentiments regarding the law and truth found in this Psalm.
John Chapter 13
John 17 serves as the conclusion to the Upper Room discourse that began in chapter 13.
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