John 17 - Holman KJV Study Bible

17:1-26 In His final prayer in this chapter, ­Jesus gave an account of His earthly mission to the Father who sent Him. He prayed first for Himself (v v. 1-5), then for His disciples (v v. 6-19), and finally for all future believers (v v. 20-26). In His prayer, ­Jesus adopted the stance of one who has completed His mission (v. 4, cp. 4:34), having been sent by the Father and now preparing to return (13:1; 16:28). His prayer was fulfilled when He cried out from the cross, saying of the mission of redemption and revelation He had come to accomplish: "It is finished" (19:30).

17:1-5 The first unit in ­Jesus' prayer is His intercession for Himself.

17:1 ­Jesus looked up to heaven, striking a customary ­posture in prayer (Ps. 123:1; Mark 7:34; Luke 18:13). On the hour is come, see note at 2:4. The opening petition, glorify thy Son, is a claim to deity since the OT affirms that God will not give His glory to another (Isa. 42:8; 48:11). On ­Jesus as the sent Son, see note at 3:16-18.

17:2-3 God's granting of power to ­Jesus (5:27) marks the beginning of a new era (Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 7:13-14; see Matt. 11:27; 28:18). Eternal life comes from knowing God and ­Jesus the sent Son (1:4; 5:26; 20:31). Knowing God is not confined to intellectual knowledge; it involves living in fellowship with Him. That God is the only true God is affirmed in the Shema (Deut. 6:4; cp. John 5:44; 1 5:20). ­Jesus, in turn, is the One and Only sent by the Father (1:14,18; 3:16,18) and the only way to Him (14:6). In John's Gospel, the full name ­Jesus Christ is found only here and in 1:17, forming a literary inclusion. Note that in these verses ­Jesus referred to Himself in the third person.

17:4 The reference to ­Jesus' work in the singular harks back to 4:34, another inclusion.

17:5 Again, ­Jesus claimed preexistence (v. 24; 1:1,14; 3:13; 6:62; 8:58; 16:28).

17:6-19 The second unit of ­Jesus' prayer contains intercession for His disciples, beginning with a rehearsal of His ministry to them (v v. 6-8). ­Jesus' prayer includes petitions for their protection (v v. 11-16) and for their consecration for service in the truth (v v. 17-19).

17:6 ­Jesus' revelation of God's name included making known the Father's works and words (1:18; 8:19,27; 10:38; 12:45; 14:9-11).

17:7-8 The portrayal of ­Jesus here is reminiscent of the description of the Prophet like Moses in Deut. 18:18.

17:12 Even Judas's betrayal happened in fulfillment of Scripture. The antecedent passage is probably Ps. 41:9 (see note at 13:18). Other Scriptures fulfilled through Judas are Ps. 69:25 and 109:8 (cited in Acts 1:20).

17:18 This verse looks forward to the commission that ­Jesus assigned His disciples after His resurrection (20:21).

17:20-26 ­Jesus did not stop at praying for Himself (v v. 1-5) and His disciples (v v. 6-19; cp. Deut. 29:14-15). ­Jesus was concerned for His followers' unity (17:21-23; cp. 10:16; 11:52) and love (17:26). Unity among believers results from the indivisible unity of God (10:38; 14:10-11,20,23; 15:4-5). Once unified, believers are able to bear witness to the true identity of ­Jesus as the One sent by God.

17:25 The OT teaches that God is righteous and just (Ps. 116:5; 119:137; Jer. 12:1). Though His betrayal, torture, and death were looming, ­Jesus affirmed the righteousness of God His Father.

17:26 The phrase I in them is filled with covenantal overtones (v. 23; 14:20; see note at 15:4-5,8). After the giving of the law at Sinai, God came to dwell in the midst of Israel in the tabernacle (Exod. 40:34). As they moved toward the promised land, God frequently assured His people that He was in their midst (Exod. 29:45-46; Deut. 7:21; 23:14).