John 17 - NIV Study Bible

17:1 he looked toward heaven. A customary posture in prayer (11:41; Ps 123:1; Mk 7:34), though sometimes Jesus prostrated himself (see Mt 26:39; see also note on 1Ch 17:16). Father. Used of God in John’s Gospel about 120 times. the hour. See note on 2:4. Glorify . . . glorify. See notes on 1:14; 7:39; 13:31. The glory of the Father and that of the Son are closely connected, and the death by which Jesus would glorify God would lead to eternal life for believers (v. 2).

17:1–26 Jesus’ longest recorded prayer—sometimes called his “High Priestly Prayer,” because Jesus intercedes with the Father on behalf of his followers. Jesus prays for himself (vv. 1–5), for his disciples (vv. 6–19), and for all future believers (vv. 20–26).

17:2 granted. The act of giving is stressed in this chapter (vv. 4,6–9,11–12,14,22,24); see note on 3:27. eternal life. See note on 3:15. those you have given him. Again God’s initiative in salvation is stressed (see vv. 6,12; 6:37,39,44 and notes).

17:3 eternal life . . . know you. Eternal life is not just a future inheritance but also a present possession—available because of our relationship with the Father through the Son. John’s Gospel stresses this latter sense. sent. Again the mission of Jesus is mentioned (see 3:34; 4:34; 13:20 and notes).

17:4 I have brought you glory. Christ’s mission was not self-centered. the work you gave me. Jesus emphasized the supreme place of the Father (see note on 4:34).

17:5 glorify me . . . with the glory I had with you. Jesus asks the Father to return him to his previous position of glory, to exchange humiliation for glorification. This occurred at Christ’s resurrection and exaltation to God’s right hand. world. The universe (see notes on v. 14; 1:9). The Greek word for “world” occurs 18 times in this prayer.

17:6 I have revealed you. See NIV text note and notes on 2:23; 14:13; cf. 1:18. those whom you gave me. Again the divine initiative (see note on v. 2).

17:7 everything . . . comes from you. Only as people see the Father at work in Jesus do they have a proper concept of God. The disciples had at last reached this understanding. Cf. Jas 1:17.

17:8 Three things about the disciples are mentioned: (1) They accepted the teaching (unlike the Pharisees and others who heard it but did not receive it). (2) They knew with certainty Jesus’ divine origin. Acceptance of that revelation led them further into truth. (3) They believed (see notes on 1:7,12; 20:31).

17:9 not . . . for the world. The only prayer Jesus could pray for the world was that it cease to be worldly (i.e., opposed to God), and this he did pray (vv. 21,23).

17:11 Holy Father. A form of address found only here in the NT (but cf. 1Pe 1:16; Rev 4:8 and notes). The name suggests both transcendence and nearness; God is both awe-inspiring (see Lev 11:44 and note) and loving. protect them by the power of your name. See v. 12. Cf. 1Sa 17:45; Ps 5:11; 20:7–8; Pr 18:10 and notes. that they may be one. The latter part of the prayer strongly emphasizes unity. Here the unity is already given, not something to be achieved. The meaning is “that they continually be one” rather than “that they become one.” The unity is to be like that between the Father and the Son. It is much more than unity of organization, but the church’s present divisions are the result of the failures of Christians. Such unity does not require uniformity. It should be a unity with diversity (see 1Co 12:12–31; Eph 4:1–16 and notes).

17:12 I protected them. Christ’s power is adequate for every need (cf. 1Pe 1:5 and note). the one doomed to destruction. That is, one belonging to the sphere of damnation and headed for destruction. Reference is to Judas Iscariot (see 13:18 and note).

17:13 my joy. See note on 15:11.

17:14 the world. The world that is hostile to God and God’s people (see notes on v. 5; 1:9). not of the world. They do not have the mindset of the world, i.e., hostility to God, for they have been “born of the Spirit” (3:8) and are “children of God” (1:12).

17:15 not that you take them out of the world. The world is where Jesus’ disciples are to do their work; Jesus does not wish them to be taken from it until that work is done (v. 18). the evil one. Satan, who is especially active in the world (Mt 6:13; 1Jn 5:19), making God’s protection indispensable.

17:17 Sanctify. The word means “to make holy” or “to be set apart” (10:36) and so refers to being in right relationship with God, who is perfectly holy (see v. 19; 1Co 1:2 and notes). the truth; your word. Sanctification and revelation (as recorded in the word of God) go together (cf. 1Pe 2:2 and note). For the relationship between Christ’s teaching and truth, see 8:31–32 and note on 8:32.

17:18 As you sent me . . . I have sent them. See 20:21. Jesus’ mission is one of the dominant themes of this Gospel and is given as the pattern for his followers (see v. 3 and note). into the world. We may long for heaven, but it is on earth that our work is done.

17:19 I sanctify myself. This statement is unparalleled. In the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT) the verb is used of consecrating priests (Ex 28:41) and sacrifices (Ex 28:38; Nu 18:9). Jesus solemnly “sanctifies” (i.e., “sets apart”) himself to do God’s will, which at this point meant his death. that they too may be . . . sanctified. Jesus died on the cross not only to save us but also to consecrate us to God’s service (see note on 1 Co 1:2).

17:20 those who will believe in me. Jesus had just spoken of the mission and the sanctification of his followers (vv. 18–19). He was confident that they would spread the gospel, and he prayed for those who would believe as a result. All future believers are included in this prayer.

17:21 that all of them may be one. See note on v. 11. Father. See note on v. 1. that the world may believe. The unity of believers should have an effect on outsiders, to convince them of the mission of Christ. Jesus’ prayer is a rebuke of the groundless and often bitter divisions among believers.

17:22 glory. See note on v. 1. Believers are to be characterized by humility and service, just as Christ was, and it is on them that God’s glory rests. that they may be one as we are one. Again the Lord emphasized the importance of unity among his followers, and again the standard is the unity of the Father and the Son.

17:23 I in them and you in me. There are two indwellings here: that of the Son in believers and that of the Father in the Son. It is because the latter is a reality that the former can take place. complete unity. Again the emphasis on unity has an evangelistic aim. This time it is connected not only with the mission of Jesus but also with God’s love for people and for Christ. Cf. Eph 4:1–3; Col 3:12–14.

17:24 Father. See note on v. 1. to be with me. The Christian’s greatest blessing (see 14:3; 1Th 4:17 and note). where I am. In heaven (14:3). my glory. Perhaps used here to refer to Jesus’ eternal splendor (1Jn 3:2). Or Jesus’ prayer may have been that in the life to come they might fully appreciate the glory of his lowly service (cf. Eph 2:7).

17:25 Righteous Father. A form of address found only here in the NT (cf. note on “Holy Father” in v. 11). they know. They did not know God directly and personally, but they knew that God had sent Christ. To recognize God in Christ’s mission is a great advance over anything the world can know.

17:26 made you known to them. See 16:3 and note.