John 17

Jesus lived and breathed a life of connection to God the Father in prayer, and John 17 is entirely dedicated to recording what is often called Jesus’ High-Priestly prayer. Scholar D.A. Carson is right to note that it “is at once petition [asking God], proclamation, even revelation” (Carson, 552). Not only is Jesus talking to his Father and asking Him for what is needed, he’s instructing his disciples who heard him, and is instructing us – the later readers – by his example and by the content of his prayer. 

So, what is Jesus trying to instruct us in, and what can we be confident about, as a result of his praying for us? Those are the questions we need to ask as we read this passage. 

Look at v. 1. What does Jesus say right at the beginning? We can see that John 17 is not disconnected from the previous events, but is intricately weaved into the events of Jesus’ life at this point. At the end of chapter 16, Jesus has just finished promising his disciples that they will have trouble in this world, but that they must “take heart”. Why? Look at 16:33. They can take heart, because Jesus has “overcome the world.” 

Look at vv.1-5. What does Jesus pray for here? Jesus is just about to go to the cross: he knows it, so he begins his prayer by speaking of his “glorification”, which includes his being “lifted up” on the cross as well as his resurrection and his entering into the glory he enjoyed before his self-humbling entrance into the world.  Why does Jesus want God the Father to “glorify the Son”? What will happen as the “Son” is glorified?  Why did God grant the Son authority over all people? Jesus is presented as one having real power and authority – authority over all people. 

Notice v. 3. What does Jesus say “is eternal life”? What does he mean by that phrase? What do you think Jesus means by “knowing God” and “knowing Christ”? When, according to this verse, does “eternal life” begin? Here’s how Carson puts it: “To know God is to be transformed, and thus to be introduced to a life that could not otherwise be experienced” (Carson, 556). 

Do you think of “eternal life” as something that is to be enjoyed right now? Or have you always thought of it as the “life after this life”? How might knowing that we are “transformed” to enjoy a life of knowing God that will go on for all eternity, but that begins now…how might that change the way we live? What about the way we share the Good News of Jesus with others? How might it change the way we introduce people to a life-giving, life-changing experience with God?

Look at vv. 6-19. Who is this prayer “for”? It’s for Jesus’ twelve disciples, isn’t it? Notice the things that Jesus asks the Father for on their behalf. He asks for their protection and that they would be “sanctified” (which means “set apart for a good purpose”) by the truth for the purpose of being sent into the world to tell others the Good News. 

Look now at how Jesus changes the focus of his prayer in v.20. Who is he praying for here? It’s for you and me, isn’t it? It’s for “everyone else who will have faith” because of what Jesus’ disciples will say about him. What is the main thing Jesus prays for in vv.20-26? He wants us to be unified as his people. It comes back to “loving each other”, which of course demonstrates that Jesus has truly come from the Father (v.23).

So may we be a people who chose love, who chose unity, who chose to show the world the truth of Jesus through our actions. 

Dave