John 17 - CSB Disciple’s Study Bible

17:1,4 GOD, Glory—Notice the close relationship between the Father and the Son. Each glorifies the other. Glorifying God is revealing something about the person or nature of God and acknowledging his preeminent place above all other authorities. See notes on 11:4; 12:28.

17:1 HISTORY, Time—See note on 12:23-33.

17:1-5 JESUS CHRIST, Glory—See note on 11:4. The cross and resurrection were the ultimate signs of Christ’s divine glory. In them Jesus had authority to provide eternal life to all people of God.

17:1-26 PRAYER, Intercession—In chap. 17 Jesus prayed as the Son of God and as the Head of the church. He knew he would die the next day. The exaltation he asked for himself would place him above all things with the Father for the sake of his followers. He identified himself with the Father’s glory and deity. He stated lines of identity for his followers that would seem audacious from their lips. They belonged to the Father (v. 6); they recognized Jesus’s authority (vv. 7-8); they brought him glory (v. 10), and have been given divine glory (v. 22); and they were not of the world (vv. 14,16). Jesus made specific petitions for his followers: for protection (vv. 11,15), for sanctification (v. 17), and for unity (v. 21). The prayer assures us Jesus cares for and prays for us his church.

17:2-3 SALVATION, Eternal Life—Christ defined eternal life as intimate personal knowledge of Father and Son. Eternal life is not a possession but an eternal relationship. Christ gives eternal life to all those whom the Father gives him. The believer’s security is anchored in God’s faithfulness.

17:5 JESUS CHRIST, Preexistent—Jesus prayed that he might return to the Father and enjoy the honor he had known with the Father before the world began.

17:6-9 REVELATION, Jesus Christ—Jesus revealed all that God wished to have known about God. He prayed as the One who stands between the people and God. What Jesus revealed came from the Father.

17:6-19 EVIL AND SUFFERING, Rejoicing—Jesus prayed that the Father would protect his disciples in the world. We will not be immune from problems, but we will have joy and a sense of God’s presence in our trials. Part of our protection is our unity in the body of Christ. God’s protection is not a monastic escape from the world but a secure participation with God in the world.

17:6-26 JESUS CHRIST, Intercession—Jesus prayed for us as he faced the cross and continues to pray for all believers.

17:9-18 CREATION, Purposeful—Jesus made a distinction between the world and those in it. In John’s Gospel, the world is human society organizing itself without God. God loved this world and sent his Son to be its Savior (3:16). At the close of his ministry, however, Jesus prayed for God’s people, not for the world. As the Father had sent Jesus to the world, he was now about to send his followers into the world. They needed the Father’s protection and guidance in this evil world so they could be effective witnesses for him.

17:11 THE CHURCH, Redeemed of All Ages—Jesus cares for his people and intercedes on their behalf. God desires that all his redeemed ones be united in Christ Jesus. The unity of the church is personal, not organizational. The church of the ages is united in love and purpose as are God and Jesus. See notes on 10:14-18; 20:29; Lk 9:49-50.

17:11-12 GOD, Power—A major aspect of God’s work for believers is protecting or preserving us through his mighty power. The same power that brought about creation and raised Jesus from the dead is available to guard and preserve the Christian. See Rm 8:28-39.

17:12-15 ELECTION, Protection—Christ protected his elect disciples and prayed for God to continue that protection. The protection did not apply to the one who chose to betray Christ in fulfillment of Scripture. Scripture did not force Judas to betray Christ. Scripture (Ps 41:9) anticipated that a friend would betray him. Judas was in his very nature lost and bound for destruction. He would not hear, trust, and obey Christ. He chose to be the betrayer and suffered the consequences of his choice.

17:13 SALVATION, Joy—Believers can have the same joy Christ had. Christ’s prayer is still being answered today.

17:14 REVELATION, Inspiration—Christ gave his followers the words from God, breathing God’s revelation into their lives and hearts. Such revelation leads to persecution not power in the world. Revelation gives spiritual power to endure persecution.

17:17 HOLY SCRIPTURE, Purpose—The word of God that Jesus brought (v. 14) makes disciples different from the world; it sanctifies them or makes them holy. Thus God’s word fulfilled the OT purpose of God (Lv 11:44; 19:1). The sanctifying word also sends disciples into the world on Christ’s mission (Jn 17:18). How can disciples be sure they are truly God’s people on God’s mission? They know because they have God’s word that is truth. It corresponds to the real world, does not lie or deceive, and represents absolute divine revelation. In John’s writings “word” and “truth” have their primary meaning in Jesus (1:14; 14:6) who is the focus of God’s revelation. It is of Jesus that all Scripture speaks. See note on Lk 24:44-46.

17:17 SALVATION, Sanctification—Disciples are equipped for God’s work through the truth, which is the word from God (Ps 119:142). God’s Word, both living and written, is the chief means through which he sanctifies us.

17:18-19 EVANGELISM, Call to Evangelize—The Father sent Jesus to provide salvation. Jesus totally dedicated himself to the mission, giving up his own life. Jesus, in turn, sends us after the lost. He calls us to the same dedication he showed.

17:20-21 HUMANITY, Commitment—The people of God are expected to have the same kind of loving, committed relationship with each other as the Father and Jesus have with one another. See note on Gn 1:26-29.

17:20-23 THE CHURCH, Redeemed of All Ages—The church was not limited in time. Jesus sought fruitful disciples who would carry on his work after he ascended to the Father. He prayed for all the church through all ages. He wanted the expansion of the church to produce a unified people. Divisions of the heart among God’s believers are not his will. A united people of God can witness effectively for him. The continuing presence of Jesus with his church brings unity, displaying God’s love to the world. All believers should work for unity of heart and mind with other believers rather than engaging in that which is divisive. Individual identity and mission of individual groups within Christianity must never blind us to the larger unity of the church around the world. See note on v. 11.

17:20-23 EVANGELISM, Results—Jesus prayed for the evangelistic work of the church. He expects disciples to lead others to believe and then to incorporate new believers into his church. We can count on the power of Christ’s prayer as we testify to others about him. Only as we remain closely related to God will our lives reflect his love and attract people to him.

17:24 LAST THINGS, Heaven—Participation in present spiritual union with Christ results eventually in sharing the eternal presence of Christ. Jesus anticipated, longed for, and requested a return to the state of glory he had known with the Father from eternity past. To see that glory is to be where he is. See note on 14:1-3. Heaven will be perception of and participation in the eternal glory of Christ (Rm 8:17-18).

17:25 GOD, Righteous—As he faced his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus specifically addressed God as “Righteous Father.” He thus affirmed that God was doing what is right and fair even as he let Jesus suffer and die. The NT puts such strong emphasis on God’s love that it is easy to forget his righteousness. Basically, the righteousness of God is a major theme in the OT and is simply assumed in the NT. God’s righteousness means he always does what is right. He is faithful and true to himself and to his people in all circumstances. Righteousness is not the opposite of love, nor does it stand in contrast to love. Love and righteousness are perfectly coordinated. Both are a vital part of God’s nature. There is no love in God that is not righteous, and there is no righteousness in God that is not loving.

17:26 DISCIPLESHIP, Neighbor Love—Jesus stated that he made God known to his believers in order for the love God has for him to be in them. Neighbor love in the lives of disciples is the same love the heavenly Father has for his only begotten Son. Disciples are to love redemptively, even as God through Christ loves redemptively. In fact, God loves redemptively through his disciples by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. See 14:15-17; note on 1Jn 2:3-6.