📖 Passage

John 17:1–26 Read John 17:1–26 (NKJV)

🧠 Context & Background

John 17, often called the "High Priestly Prayer," is the climactic conclusion of Jesus’ farewell discourse before His arrest. In this prayer, Jesus intercedes for Himself, His disciples, and future believers. It reveals the intimate relationship between the Son and the Father and underscores the unity of God’s people. Rooted in the Old Testament pattern of priestly intercession (cf. Leviticus 16), this prayer is a window into the eternal purposes of God—glorifying the Son so that the Son may glorify the Father, safeguarding the disciples, and uniting all believers in truth and love. The prayer also fulfills the prophetic anticipation of the Messiah as the intercessor for His people (Isaiah 53:12).

🌿 Key Themes

• Glory through the Cross – Jesus’ glorification comes through His sacrificial death and resurrection.
• Eternal life – Defined as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
• Sanctification in truth – God’s Word consecrates believers for mission.
• Unity of believers – Reflecting the oneness of the Father and Son.
• Mission to the world – The church’s unity testifies to Christ’s divine mission.

📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary

17:1–5 – “Father, the hour has come…”

"Glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you."
- The hour – Refers to Jesus’ appointed time to suffer, die, and rise for salvation.
- Mutual glorification – The cross displays God’s justice and mercy, magnifying both Father and Son.
- Definition of eternal life – Not mere unending existence, but knowing God personally through Christ.
- Preexistence and divine glory – Jesus speaks of the glory He shared with the Father before creation.

17:6–8 – “I have manifested your name…”

"They have kept your word."
- Manifesting God’s name – Jesus reveals God’s character and nature to His disciples.
- Obedient reception – The disciples have received and believed His words as divine truth.

17:9–11 – “Holy Father, keep them in your name…”

"That they may be one, even as we are one."
- Exclusive intercession – Jesus prays for His own, not for the unbelieving world.
- Divine protection – The Father’s name safeguards disciples amid hostility.
- Unity rooted in the Godhead – The model of oneness is the eternal unity of Father and Son.

17:12–13 – “I have guarded them…”

"That they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."
- Faithful guardianship – None were lost except Judas, fulfilling Scripture (Psalm 41:9).
- Joy in the midst of trial – The joy Jesus gives transcends circumstances.

17:14–16 – “They are not of the world…”

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."
- Counter-cultural identity – Believers belong to God’s kingdom, not the world’s system.
- Sanctification – God’s Word sets them apart for holy service.

17:17–19 – “As you sent me into the world…”

"For their sake I consecrate myself."
- Missional sending – Believers are sent as Christ was sent—into the world but not of it.
- Christ’s consecration – His self-offering on the cross enables believers to be truly sanctified.

17:20–23 – “I do not ask for these only…”

"That they may all be one… so that the world may believe."
- Intercession for future believers – Jesus prays for all who will believe through the apostles’ word.
- Evangelistic unity – The visible oneness of the church is a witness to Christ’s divine mission.
- Shared glory – Believers are drawn into the fellowship of the Trinity.

17:24–26 – “Father, I desire…”

"That they may see my glory that you have given me."
- Eternal fellowship – The ultimate goal is for believers to dwell with Christ and behold His glory.
- Love from eternity past – The Father’s eternal love for the Son is extended to all who belong to Him.
- Ongoing revelation – Jesus will continue to make the Father known, ensuring believers remain in divine love.

🔍 Trusted Insight

Andreas Köstenberger calls John 17 “the holy of holies of Scripture,” where we overhear the Son communing with the Father. D.A. Carson emphasizes that this prayer is not only for the disciples but for all future believers, making it deeply relevant to the church today. R.C. Sproul notes that the unity Jesus prays for is doctrinal, moral, and missional—not mere institutional agreement.
Summary: John 17 reveals Jesus’ heart for His people, His mission to glorify the Father, and His desire for a united, sanctified, and eternally secure church.

🧩 Review Questions

1. How does Jesus define eternal life in this chapter?
2. Why is sanctification through God’s Word central to the mission of the church?
3. How does Jesus’ prayer for unity challenge divisions within the body of Christ?
4. In what ways does the High Priestly Prayer strengthen our assurance of salvation?
5. How does seeing Jesus’ preexistence affect our understanding of His role in redemption?

🔍 Definitions

• Sanctify – To set apart for holy use, to make holy in service to God.
• Glory – The visible manifestation of God’s divine attributes and majesty.
• Intercession – The act of mediating or praying on behalf of another.
• Unity – Oneness of purpose and love reflecting the unity of the Trinity.

🙋 Application Questions

1. How does knowing Jesus prayed for you personally shape your faith?
2. In what ways can you actively contribute to the unity of the church?
3. How does the promise of seeing Christ’s glory impact your perseverance?
4. What steps can you take to be more sanctified in God’s truth?

🔤 Greek Keywords

• δοξάζω (doxazō) – “to glorify”; to honor, magnify, or display the majesty of God.
• ἁγιάζω (hagiazō) – “to sanctify” or “set apart” for God’s purposes.
• κόσμος (kosmos) – “world”; the fallen world system in opposition to God.
• ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν (hina ōsin hen) – “that they may be one”; expressing purpose and unity.

📚 Cross References

• Isaiah 53:12 – The Messiah intercedes for transgressors.
• Hebrews 7:25 – Christ always lives to intercede for His people.
• 1 John 5:20 – The Son of God has come to give us understanding to know Him.
• Psalm 133:1 – Unity among God’s people is good and pleasant.
• Ephesians 4:3–6 – Maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
• Revelation 21:3–4 – God will dwell with His people forever.

📦 Next Study

Next Study → John 18:1–11