John — Chapter 17

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1These 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:

2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

7Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

13And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

25O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

26And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

1These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the son may glorify thee:

2even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life.

3And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, [even] Jesus Christ.

4I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do.

5And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

6I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word.

7Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee:

8for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received [them], and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me.

9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine:

10and all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine: and I am glorified in them.

11And I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we [are].

12While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

13But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.

14I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one].

16They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.

17Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.

18As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world.

19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

20Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word;

21that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.

22And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we [are] one;

23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me.

24Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

25O righteous Father, the world knew thee not, but I knew thee; and these knew that thou didst send me;

26and I made known unto them thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, and I in them.

1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you—

2just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.

3Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

4I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

5And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created.

6“I have revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word.

7Now they understand that everything you have given me comes from you,

8because I have given them the words you have given me. They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

9I am praying on behalf of them. I am not praying on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you have given me because they belong to you.

10Everything I have belongs to you, and everything you have belongs to me, and I have been glorified by them.

11I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them safe in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.

12When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled.

13But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience my joy completed in themselves.

14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

15I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one.

16They do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world.

17Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth.

18Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.

19And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart.

20“I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony,

21that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me.

22The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one—

23I in them and you in me—that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.

24“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they can see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25Righteous Father, even if the world does not know you, I know you, and these men know that you sent me.

26I made known your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them, and I may be in them.”

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.”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Jesus prays His High Priestly Prayer — for His own glorification, for His disciples' sanctification and protection, and for all future believers' unity — "that they may be one, even as we are one."

Authorship & Background

Author: The Apostle John (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 17 is Jesus' High Priestly Prayer — the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in Scripture, prayed on the night of His arrest. It is sometimes called the "Lord's Prayer" in the truest sense — the prayer Jesus Himself prayed, as opposed to the model prayer He gave His disciples (Matthew 6).
Structure: The prayer has three movements: (1) Jesus prays for Himself — for glorification (vv.1-5) (2) Jesus prays for His disciples — for protection, joy, and sanctification (vv.6-19) (3) Jesus prays for all future believers — for unity (vv.20-26)
This means Jesus prayed for you personally in this prayer (v.20). He prayed for your unity with other believers, your protection from evil, and that you would be with Him in glory.
Theological Significance: This chapter reveals the inner life of the Trinity — the love between Father and Son before creation (v.24), the shared glory (v.5), and the mission of the Son to make the Father known (v.26).

Map & Geography

  • En route to Gethsemane: Jesus prayed this High Priestly Prayer on the night of His arrest — possibly while walking toward the Mount of Olives or already in the garden.
  • "The world" and "out of the world" (vv.11,15): Jesus speaks of the world as the environment of the disciples' mission — they are sent INTO it but kept FROM its evil.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the three sections of the prayer, the meaning of eternal life as knowing God (v.3), the nature of sanctification through truth, and the unity Jesus prays for in vv.20-23.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The High Priestly Prayer" on v.20 (MTP Vol. 56, No. 3213) "He prayed for them also which shall believe on Me through their word. That means you. Before you were born, before you believed, before you even heard the Gospel — Jesus prayed for you by name. You were on His heart in the upper room." Sermon: "Sanctification by the Truth" on v.17 (MTP Vol. 27, No. 1584) "Sanctify them through thy truth. Not through experience alone, not through suffering alone, not through service alone — through truth. The Word of God is the primary instrument of making us holy."

Videos

David Guzik — Enduring Word Video Series (John)

YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_QIfO0mxbX4zgQH4vuK6q1q7gu8Ok6tz John 17:1-10 - Prepared by Prayer: John 17:11-19 - Prepared for Preservation: John 17:20-26 - Prepared to Proclaim:

Reflection

  • 1. "This is life eternal, that they might know thee" (v.3). Eternal life is not primarily about going to heaven — it is about knowing God. How would you describe your knowledge of God right now? Is it growing? Is it personal and relational, or mostly intellectual?
  • 2. Jesus prayed for you in this prayer (v.20). Before you were born, He interceded for you. He is still interceding for you now (Hebrews 7:25). How does knowing that Jesus is actively praying for you right now change how you face your current struggles?
  • 3. "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil" (v.15). God's plan is not to remove you from difficulty but to protect you in it. Where are you asking God to remove you from a situation when He may be calling you to be kept in it for His purposes?
  • 4. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (v.17). The primary instrument of your growth in holiness is the Word of God. How much time are you spending in Scripture? Is it changing you — your thinking, your desires, your behavior?
  • 5. Jesus said "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (v.4) — before the cross. He lived with such clarity of purpose that He could say His work was done. What is the work God has given you to do? Are you doing it, or are you distracted by things that aren't your assignment?
  • 6. Jesus prayed that His joy would be fulfilled in His disciples (v.13). His joy — not a manufactured happiness but the deep joy of living in the Father's will. Is that the kind of joy you're experiencing? What is the difference between Christ's joy and the happiness the world offers?
  • 7. Jesus prayed for the unity of all believers (vv.20-23) — and said that unity is the evidence to the world that God sent Him. How does division among Christians damage the witness of the Gospel? What is your role in pursuing unity with other believers, even those you disagree with?
  • 8. "The love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them" (v.26). The Father's love for the Son — the eternal, infinite love within the Trinity — is the same love He has for you. Does that feel real to you? What would it look like to live from that love rather than constantly seeking love and approval from other sources?
  • 9. Jesus prayed "that they may behold my glory" (v.24) — His ultimate desire for His people is that they see Him in His full glory. What does it mean to you that the goal of your entire life is to see and know Jesus more fully — and that this will be completed in eternity?