John 17 Esv, often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer, is a profound and pivotal chapter in the Gospel of John. This chapter encapsulates Jesus’ prayer to God the Father shortly before his crucifixion. It is not just a prayer for himself, but a prayer that extends to his disciples and all future believers. Understanding John 17 provides deep insights into Jesus’ relationship with the Father, his love for his followers, and his mission on earth.
Jesus Prays for His Glorification (John 17:1-5)
The prayer begins with Jesus lifting his eyes to heaven and acknowledging that “the hour has come.” This hour is not just any moment, but the destined time for his glorification through his suffering, death, and resurrection. Jesus asks the Father to glorify Him so that He, in turn, might glorify the Father. This mutual glorification underscores the inseparable bond between the Father and the Son and the purpose of Jesus’ earthly mission – to reveal God’s glory to humanity.
Verse 2 highlights the authority given to Jesus by the Father – authority “over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.” This is a crucial statement about the scope of Jesus’ power and the nature of eternal life. Eternal life, as defined in verse 3, is not merely endless existence, but intimately knowing God and Jesus Christ. This knowledge is not just intellectual assent but a deep, personal relationship. Jesus emphasizes that he has glorified the Father on earth by completing the work assigned to him. Now, he asks to be glorified with the Father in the same glory he had before the world existed, reaffirming his pre-existence and divine nature.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples (John 17:6-19)
The focus of Jesus’ prayer then shifts to his disciples. He declares, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world.” Jesus emphasizes that these disciples were originally the Father’s, and the Father gave them to him. This highlights the divine initiative in salvation and the close relationship between the Father and the Son in choosing and calling believers. The disciples have kept God’s word and come to understand that everything Jesus has is from the Father, acknowledging Jesus’ divine origin and mission.
Jesus specifically prays for these disciples, distinguishing them from “the world.” He intercedes not for everyone, but specifically for those given to him, because they belong to the Father. He reiterates the unity between himself and the Father: “All mine are yours, and yours are mine.” This profound statement of shared possession and unity leads to Jesus’ glorification in his disciples.
As Jesus is about to leave the world and return to the Father, he prays for their protection. He addresses God as “Holy Father” and asks Him to “keep them in your name,” emphasizing the divine power and authority inherent in God’s name. The unity of believers is paramount in Jesus’ prayer – “that they may be one, even as we are one.” This echoes the unity within the Trinity and sets the standard for unity among believers.
During his time with them, Jesus kept and guarded his disciples, and none were lost except Judas, “the son of destruction,” fulfilling Scripture. Now, as he is returning to the Father, Jesus speaks these things in the world so that his disciples may have his joy fulfilled in themselves. He acknowledges that the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as he is not of the world. Jesus isn’t asking for them to be taken out of the world, but to be protected from the evil one. He emphasizes their distinct identity – “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
Sanctification is another key theme: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” Sanctification is being set apart for God’s purpose, and it is achieved through God’s word, which is truth. Just as the Father sent Jesus into the world, Jesus sends his disciples into the world, continuing his mission. He consecrates himself for their sake, “that they also may be sanctified in truth,” highlighting his sacrificial act for their holiness.
Jesus Prays for Future Believers (John 17:20-26)
Jesus’ prayer expands beyond his immediate disciples to include “those who will believe in me through their word.” This encompasses all future Christians, demonstrating the enduring impact of Jesus’ prayer. He prays for unity among all believers, mirroring the unity between the Father and the Son: “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us.” This unity is not just an internal experience but has an outward purpose – “so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” The unity of believers is a powerful witness to the world about the truth of Jesus’ mission and divine origin.
Jesus has given his glory to believers, “that they may be one even as we are one,” further emphasizing the divine unity as the model for Christian unity. He desires their perfect unity, “that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” This unity is directly linked to the world’s recognition of God’s love and Jesus’ mission.
Jesus expresses his desire for all believers to be with him where he is, to see his glory, the glory given to him by the Father before the foundation of the world. He acknowledges the Father as “righteous Father” and contrasts the world’s ignorance of God with Jesus’ knowledge and the disciples’ understanding of his divine mission.
The prayer concludes with Jesus reiterating that he has made God’s name known to his disciples and will continue to do so. This is so that “the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” The ultimate purpose is for believers to be filled with the same love that exists between the Father and the Son, and for Christ to dwell within them.
John 17 ESV is a rich and theologically significant passage. It reveals the heart of Jesus as he prepares for the cross, praying for his glory, the protection and sanctification of his disciples, and the unity of all future believers. It is a prayer that continues to resonate with Christians today, calling them to unity, holiness, and a deeper knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.
