John 17 - NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible

17:1–5 Jesus prayed to the Father immediately after telling his disciples that in this world they would have trouble. Chapter 17 is Jesus’ longest recorded prayer. The prayer can be divided into three sections: Jesus’ prayer for himself, his prayer for his disciples, and his prayer for future believers.

Three thoughts stand out in these opening verses: Jesus’ confidence in the Father’s plan, Jesus’ passion for the Father’s glory, and Jesus’ gift of eternal life to those given to him by the Father. Jesus addressed God as Father. Instead of praying for rescue from this hour, he prayed that God would glorify him so that he in turn might glorify the Father. Jesus prayed, “Glorify your Son” (v. 1), and he concluded the opening section by asking his Father to glorify him with his preincarnate glory (v. 5). The Father gave Jesus authority to give eternal life. Believers are God’s gift to his Son. Eternal life is defined relationally as knowing God and Jesus Christ. Knowing means more than just intellectual apprehension or merely knowing about God and Jesus; it means knowing God and Jesus in a personal way through faith. Jesus glorified the Father by completing the work the Father gave him, especially his death on the cross. Jesus spoke as if the work were already accomplished because there was no doubt that it would be.

17:6–12 The central portion of Jesus’ prayer focuses on his intercession for his disciples. This section divides into three thoughts: Jesus’ progress report on his disciples, his prayer for their spiritual protection, and his prayer that they would be set apart to proclaim the gospel in the world. Jesus revealed God’s nature to the disciples. Now that they knew what God is really like, they were able to understand that God is the source of everything that has been given to the Son. Jesus’ teaching was an example of this, and as a result, the disciples believed that Jesus came from God. He prayed next for their spiritual protection from Satan and the world. He prayed not for the world but for those God gave him. His followers were no longer part of the world. Jesus used the term “world” here to refer to human opposition to God. His departure was near, and he was concerned about his disciples, who would remain behind. Jesus desired that his followers be protected spiritually and remain united. Evil powers would attempt to destroy their unity, and only God’s presence and power could preserve it. The thought of unity is repeated again in vv. 21–23. Jesus protected his disciples while he was present with them, and he did not lose a single one the Father gave him. The one exception was Judas, and this was according to the Scriptures (13:18; 17:12; Mt 26:47–56).

17:13–19 Jesus prayed that the disciples would have a full measure of joy despite conflict. Even though this world is a spiritual battleground, Jesus’ followers can know joy. Jesus gave the disciples the Father’s word, yet the world would give them conflict and persecution. The disciples were not under the dominion of the world any more than Jesus was under the dominion of the world. Jesus’ followers are not of this world—that is, they are not characterized by it or under its control. Jesus prayed again for their protection from the evil one, the devil. The devil hates the church because he hates God. He will attack the church because it is the only way he can attack God. Yet the devil has always been under God’s sovereign control. Believers do not need to fear the devil, because they are in Christ, and Christ defeated the devil. Finally, Jesus prayed for the disciples to be set apart for a worldwide mission. As the Father sent the Son into a hostile world, so Jesus sends his followers into it. Christ’s mission is to be embraced by his followers. The church is to be committed to a worldwide mission extolling the name of Christ among the nations. Jesus had made this point earlier to his followers, and he would do so again after the resurrection. Just as Jesus consecrated himself to be used by the Father for the Father’s glory, so he prayed that the Father would sanctify his disciples in the truth. He desired that they also be set apart for God and his purposes.

17:20–26 Jesus’ final words of prayer focus on future believers. He prayed for their unity and future destiny. He wanted them to experience the depth of unity that exists between him and the Father. Jesus desires that his people be committed to his mission and that they love one another as he has loved them. He does not want believers fighting with one another or competing with one another. One reason Jesus wants a unified people of God is so that the world may be convinced by the church’s witness that the Father sent Jesus. The church’s unity is a divine mandate. This unity is to imitate, to a lesser degree, the unity of the Godhead. Jesus was looking ahead to eternity, when his followers will be with him forever. While the world does not know God, Jesus knows God and has made him known to his followers. Jesus concluded the prayer by requesting that future believers know the indwelling love of the Father and the manifest presence of the Son. The Father’s love is the same love he has for the Son. This thought is incomprehensible to the human mind, which may be why the apostle Paul prayed that believers would be able to comprehend that which is truly incomprehensible: God’s love for them (Eph 3:16–19).