Introduction to John Chapter 17
John Chapter 17 stands as the most profound prayer in Scripture, known as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. This intimate conversation between Jesus and God the Father occurs in the crucial hours before his crucifixion. Following the Last Supper and preceding his betrayal in Gethsemane, this prayer represents Jesus’ final moments of freedom. Unlike instructional prayers, this chapter reveals Jesus’ deepest concerns for his disciples and all future believers. The prayer serves as a theological bridge between Jesus’ earthly ministry and his redemptive work on the cross, offering unparalleled insight into Christ’s heart and mission.
John 17 Verse by Verse Breakdown
Jesus Prays for Himself (John 17:1-5)
The prayer opens with Jesus looking toward heaven and addressing God as Father. “The hour has come” signifies the culmination of his earthly mission—the cross. Jesus requests glorification “so that your Son may glorify you.” This mutual glorification reveals the perfect unity within the Trinity. He emphasizes his authority to grant eternal life, which he defines as knowing “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” This knowledge represents intimate relationship, not mere information.
Jesus declares, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” Remarkably, he speaks from the perspective of completed work before the crucifixion. The stunning request follows: “Glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” This clearly affirms Christ’s pre-existence and divinity, stating his shared glory with the Father from eternity.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples (John 17:6-19)
Jesus transitions to intercede for his immediate followers. He highlights that he revealed God’s name to those God gave him from the world. The disciples have accepted God’s word and believed Jesus was sent from God. Specific requests for the disciples include:
- Protection from the evil one while remaining in the world
- Fullness of joy
- Sanctification through God’s truth
- Preservation of unity “just as we are one”
Jesus explicitly states he’s not praying for the world but specifically for those God gave him. The sanctification theme emerges strongly: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” He consecrates himself for their sake, establishing the pattern for their mission: “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”
Jesus Prays for All Believers (John 17:20-26)
The prayer expands dramatically to include future Christians: “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” The central petition focuses on unity: “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” This unity reflects the Trinity’s nature and serves an evangelistic purpose: “so that the world may believe that you sent me.”
Jesus prays for believers to see his glory and experience the Father’s love: “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” The prayer concludes with this profound vision of indwelling presence and divine love.
Key Themes in John 17
The Meaning of Glory in Jesus’ Prayer
Glory (doxa in Greek) appears repeatedly throughout the prayer. Biblical glory represents the visible manifestation of God’s character and presence. Jesus references multiple dimensions of glory:
- Pre-existent glory shared with the Father before creation
- Glory manifested through his earthly ministry
- Glory to be revealed through the cross and resurrection
- Future glory believers will witness eternally
The cross represents the paradox of glory—through humiliation comes exaltation, through suffering comes revelation. Jesus’ death becomes the ultimate display of divine love and power.
Christian Unity According to Jesus
The prayer for unity stands as one of John 17’s most challenging aspects. Jesus petitions “that they may be one as we are one,” establishing Trinitarian relationship as the pattern for Christian unity. This unity embraces diversity within shared faith and mission, not uniformity.
The purpose of this unity is evangelistic: “so that the world may believe.” Visible love among Christians evidences the gospel’s truth. This unity isn’t merely organizational but spiritual, maintained through the Spirit’s work.
Eternal Life as Knowing God
John 17 contains Scripture’s most definitive eternal life description: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” This transforms eternal life from chronological duration to relational quality. The Greek word “know” (ginōskō) implies intimate, personal knowledge.
This knowledge begins through faith and develops through fellowship with God. Eternal life becomes both present possession and future hope, transforming believers into Christ’s image through relationship with God.