John 17
Summary for John 17:1-26: 17:1-26 a This chapter records Jesus’ longest prayer, which is often called his “high priestly prayer.” It provides an intimate glimpse into his heart. In this prayer, which closes the farewell that began at 13:31 b, Jesus expressed his own concerns to his Father (17:1-8 c) and then turned to concerns for the church and its future (17:9-26 d). 17:1 e Jesus looked up to heaven, assuming the traditional Jewish posture for prayer (11:41 f; Ps 123:1 g). He probably also raised his hands (Exod 9:33 h; 17:11 i; Ps 28:2 j). Prayers like this were said aloud so that followers could hear (John 11:41-42 k; 12:27-30 l; also Matt 11:25-30 m; Luke 10:21-22 n).• Father was Jesus’ usual way to address God, which he did six times in this prayer (see also John 11:41 o; 12:27 p). This title—unusual in Judaism—reflected Jesus’ intimacy with God.
• This hour included Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, torture, death, and resurrection (see study note on 12:23).
• Glorify your Son: In the Gospel of John, the cross is a place of honor. Jesus’ oneness with the Father means that if the Son is glorified, the Father will also be glorified.
17:2 q All authority has been placed in Jesus’ hands (3:35 r); he can give eternal life as only God can (3:15 s; 5:21 t, 25-26 u).
17:3 v to know you: The Hebrew idea of knowing encompassed experience and intimacy, which for Christians means love for God and obedience to him.
• sent to earth: Jesus originated in heaven and was returning there (17:5 w), so he exercises divine authority as the agent of God.
17:4 x Jesus’ miracles displayed God’s glory for the world to see (1:14 y). This task was finished; Jesus’ life and obedience had glorified God.
17:5 z Jesus prayed to return to the position he had with God before the world began (1:1 aa).
17:6 ab This verse summarizes Christ’s mission. He revealed the true person of God to the world, gathered up God’s people into his flock, and instructed them in obedience. The result of this work is the church.
17:8 ac Jesus revealed himself widely to the world. Those who embraced his message became children of God (1:12 ad; 11:52 ae), and he revealed God’s word to them.
Summary for John 17:9-19: 17:9-19 af Jesus prayed for his disciples, who must carry on after his departure.
17:10 ag Just as the Son brings glory to the Father (17:1 ah, 4-5 ai), the disciples bring the Son glory (17:22 aj). The love and obedience that brought glory to God in Jesus’ life become features of his disciples’ lives.
17:11 ak Jesus’ first concern for his disciples was that they ... be united with an intimacy similar to the oneness shared by Jesus and the Father.
Summary for John 17:12-13: 17:12-13 al Until now, Jesus had guarded his followers. Now he was concerned for their strength and survival in his absence, because the world would be hostile toward them (15:18-27 am) and their mission of challenging the world by heralding the truth (16:8-11 an). After Jesus’ departure, the Spirit would protect them (15:26 ao) and bring them joy.
17:14 ap God’s word, which Jesus had given his disciples, also provides a defense against the world. The Spirit would preserve and recall God’s word in the church (14:26 aq), equipping the church for its encounter with the world.
Summary for John 17:16-18: 17:16-18 ar Being holy refers to purity gained by separation from the world, and living a life so aligned with God that it reflects his passions. Disciples are set apart by God, equipped by the Spirit, and readied by God’s word to enter the world without being victimized by its darkness.
17:19 as I give myself as a holy sacrifice (literally I sanctify myself): Priests and prophets were similarly set apart for service to God (Lev 8:30 at; Jer 1:5 au). Jesus recommitted himself to his mission, acknowledging that he was set apart for the purpose of the cross. The disciples would benefit because his death would enable them to experience new holiness in a deep attachment to God.
17:20 av Jesus was praying for other sheep who were not yet in his flock (10:16 aw). These are the believers through the centuries who have come to faith through the witness of Jesus’ disciples.
17:21 ax For believers, becoming one with one another is an outgrowth of the union they enjoy with Jesus himself, a union modeled on the oneness of the Father and the Son.
• may they be in us: Through the power of the Spirit, believers would experience a profound spiritual intimacy with the Father and the Son and be transformed (14:20 ay, 23 az; 1 Jn 4:13 ba).
• Disciples of Jesus represent him, so their conduct and relationships with each other reflect the credibility of Christ in the world. When there is disunity, infighting, and intolerance, their testimony to the world is unconvincing. When people observe the community of believers, they know that it represents Jesus; a unified, loving community convinces the world to believe (John 13:35 bb; 1 Jn 3:11 bc).
17:22 bd The community of believers should display the same glory that Jesus displayed from the Father.
17:23 be that the world will know: If the church lives in the Spirit, reflects God’s glory and love, and shows unity sustained by a shared knowledge of God, then its testimony will astonish the world.
17:24 bf I want these ... to be with me: Someday, Jesus’ followers will see Jesus’ true glory, the true love that has existed in heaven since the beginning of time (17:5 bg). Jesus was returning to heaven, and he yearned to see his disciples there so that they might glimpse what no words on earth can describe.
17:26 bh All who accept the Son and embrace the Father will experience the kind of love known only between the Father and the Son.
• I will be in them: Jesus loves his followers and wants to indwell them with glory and joy unmatched by anything in the world.
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