John 17 - New Spirit-Filled Life Bible

17:1–26 This chapter, rather than Matt. 6:9–13, might more properly be called “the Lord’s Prayer.” The prayer contains a threefold petition—that He may be glorified (vv. 1–5), that the apostles may be sanctified (vv. 6–19), and that the church may be unified (vv. 20–26).

17:1–5 The petition of Jesus for Himself is not selfish, since His desire is to glorify the Father. To glorify Him is to make Him known. Jesus would soon be manifested as the Savior of the world through His atoning death. Believers in Him will know God and thus possess eternal life.

17:6–19 Although He does not pray that His immediate disciples may be removed from the world, He does pray that they will be kept from the world’s evil through the Father’s name (vv. 6–16). He also prays that they might be sanctified, that is, set apart for the ministry of truth (vv. 17–19).

17:20–26 In His final petition Jesus prays for the unity of all believers of subsequent generations. The oneness He requests is not an organizational but a spiritual unity, which, will be visibly manifested in the life of the church and will bear witness to the divine mission of Christ. The church’s unity will reach its consummation in heaven (vv. 24–26).

17:20–23 See section 1 of Truth-In-Action at the end of John.