John 17 - NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible

17:1 After Jesus said this. His prayer in vv. 1–26 is thematically connected with 13:31—16:33. looked toward heaven. A customary posture in prayer (11:41; Ps 123:1). hour. See note on 2:4. Glorify. Restore the splendor Jesus had before he took on flesh (v. 5; see notes on 1:14; 8:54; 12:23). This implies that Jesus is God (Isa 42:8; 48:11; see note on 1:1). your Son may glorify you. See note on 13:31.

17:1–5 Jesus Prays to Be Glorified. Jesus prays for himself (but is not providing a model of how we pray for ourselves). His one request is that the Father would glorify him (vv. 1,5).

17:1–26 The Prayer of Jesus. Jesus’ longest recorded prayer.

17:2 For. Or “just as.” This verse is the grounds for v. 1b. those you have given him. See vv. 6,9,12,24; see also 6:37–39,44 and notes.

17:3 eternal life. To have this is to personally know the eternal, only true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent (see note on 3:15; cf. Jer 31:34; Heb 8:11).

17:4 work. Perhaps only what Jesus has done up to this point but more likely everything Jesus will do, including his death, resurrection, and exaltation (cf. 4:34; 5:36; 19:30).

17:5 Implies that Jesus’ preexistence extends into eternity past, before the creation, with the Father and the Son existing in shared glory. See note on v. 1. before the world began. Prior to creation (v. 24; see 1:1; 8:58 and notes).

17:6 revealed. See 1:14,18 and notes; cf. 8:38; 14:7–11; 15:15. you. See NIV text note and note on 1:12. world. See notes on 1:9,29; 3:16. obeyed your word. Evidence that they belong to God (see 8:31,51; 14:15; 15:9–11 and notes).

17:6–19 Jesus Prays for His Disciples. Jesus prays only for his disciples (not the world) for three reasons: (1) They belong to the Father. (2) They bring him glory. (3) He is about to leave them (vv. 6–11a). Then Jesus asks the Father to protect his disciples (vv. 11b–16) and sanctify them (vv. 17–19).

17:7–8 The disciples at this point may not understand that Jesus must die and rise again or how he fulfills OT motifs such as the temple, Passover lamb, priest, and suffering servant. But they believe that Jesus teaches God’s truth. everything you have given me . . . I gave them the words you gave me. See 3:33–34; 5:19–30; 7:16; 8:28,38,40; 12:49–50.

17:11 Holy Father. Combines awe-inspiring transcendence with familial intimacy (cf. Matt 11:25) and prepares the way for vv. 17–19 (see notes there). protect them by the power of. See NIV text note. name. See note on 1:12. they may be one. See note on v. 21. we are one. See note on 10:30.

17:12 None has been lost. See 6:38–39 and note on 6:38. the one doomed to destruction. Judas Iscariot, whom Jesus knew would betray him (6:64, 70–71; 13:2, 10–11,18, 21–22, 26–30). Scripture. Probably Ps 41:9 (see 13:18 and note); cf. Acts 1:20, which cites Pss 69:25; 109:8.

17:13 these things. Possibly only ch. 17 but probably also 13:31—16:33. my joy. See 15:11 and note.

17:14 Cf. 15:18–25 and notes.

17:15 Implies that following Jesus while living in the world is perilous. the evil one. Satan (Matt 6:13; 1 John 5:18–19).

17:15–16 Jesus’ followers must remain in the world but not be of the world.

17:17 Sanctify. Make holy. See “Holiness.” truth; your word. The means of “sanctification.” Jesus is “the truth” (14:6; see notes on 1:14; 3:33; 7:18) and teaches “the truth” (8:31–32), and he supremely mediates God’s “word” (v. 6) as “the Word” who became flesh (1:1,14). “The Spirit of truth” (14:17; 15:26; 16:13; see note on 14:17) will guide Jesus’ disciples “into all the truth” (16:13; see note there). This revealed “truth” is now embodied in the Bible, the word of God.

17:18 sent me . . . sent them. In John’s Gospel sanctification is always for a mission. As the Father set apart Jesus and sent him on a mission into the world (10:36; see note on 3:17), Jesus sets apart his followers—who belonged to the world and whom Jesus chose out of the world (15:19)—and sends them on a mission to the world (20:21).

17:19 For them. Cf. 10:11 and note. I sanctify myself. Jesus set himself apart to accomplish the mission the Father gave him (cf. 10:36). that. Introduces the purpose: that Jesus’ followers would be set apart to accomplish the mission Jesus gives them (v. 18). truly sanctified. Sanctified by the truth, as in v. 17 (see note there).

17:20 Jesus’ prayer was not just for his eleven disciples who were with him at the time but for all future believers.

17:20–26 Jesus Prays for All Believers. Jesus prays that all believers would be one (vv. 20–23) and perfected to see his glory (vv. 24–26).

17:21 one. Unified in their common purpose and mission. just as. The unity of believers should reflect the unity between the Father and Son (vv. 11,22). you are in me and I am in you. See 14:10–11,20 and note on 10:30. in us. Probably alludes to the “union” language in the vine metaphor (15:1–17). so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The purpose for displaying compelling unity (cf. 13:35).

17:22 I have given them the glory that you gave me. Jesus’ “glory” includes his humble incarnation, culminating in his death, resurrection, and exaltation (vv. 5,24; see notes on 1:14; 8:54; 12:23,28). Jesus has revealed God’s character, or person, to his followers, who like Jesus reflect God’s glory (see 2 Cor 3:18 and note; see also “The Glory of God”). one as we are one. See note on v. 21.

17:23 See note on v. 21. brought to complete unity. Implies that the unity believers have is not yet perfect; they must grow in their unity. even as you have loved me. The Father loves believers as extravagantly as he loves his Son.

17:24 glory. In unveiled splendor (see notes on vv. 1,22). before the creation of the world. See v. 5; 1:1–2.

17:25 Righteous. Cf. 2 Thess 1:5–6; Rev 15:3; 16:5,7; 19:2. they. Believers.

17:26 See NIV text note and note on 1:12. them. Believers. will continue to make you known. Through the Holy Spirit (chs. 14–16). in order that. Introduces the purpose. Believers are not merely the object of God’s love; God’s love transforms them so that they love one another as God loves them (see 13:34–35; 15:9–12 and notes). I myself may be in them. See 14:20,23; 15:1–17.