Day #37: “God’s Glory – John 17 Part 1” (Luke Kephart)
As Jesus approaches the crucifixion, His prayers give us unique insights into His mindset, offering a window into the thoughts that consumed Him as He prepared to fulfill the mission entrusted to Him. John 17 captures this pivotal moment, occurring at the conclusion of the Passover meal, just after Jesus forewarns His disciples of the challenging times ahead. Chapter 16 ends with “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” The prayer in John 17 that follows is intentionally shared with the disciples, and with us. “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (John 17:13) Let’s take a look.
John 17:1–26 (ESV): 17 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
A central theme in this profound prayer is God’s glory. As Jesus prays, He begins as He taught His people to pray giving glory to God (Matt 6:9). The term “Hallowed” in the ESV, related to “Holy,” emphasizes the separateness and set-apart nature of God. Jesus claims this glory as His own (vs 1), grounded in:
- The authority given Him by God over all flesh, to give eternal life(vs 2)
- His role as the Messiah (Christ vs 3)
- His accomplishment of the work He was sent to do (vs 4)
- His very nature as a person of God with glory from before creation (vs 5)
Remarkably, the first three points directly impact us, illustrating that Jesus is the source of eternal life, our Messiah, and the Savior of all who believe. The affirmation, “All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them” (vs 10), reinforces the intimate connection between Jesus and believers.
Jesus then goes on to pray for “the people whom you gave me out of the world” (vs 6). “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” (vs 9) He prays for:
- Connection with the Father and Unity: Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (vs 11)
- Joy and Understanding: …these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (vs 13)
- Protection: I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.(vs 15)
- Becoming more like Jesus: Sanctify them in the truth (vs 17)
Jesus further makes it clear that He is not just talking about the disciples. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word (vs 20).” That is, you and me, and He prays that we may be united in the same way that He and the Father are one, so that the world will know what we know, that Jesus was sent from God.
As we reflect on the prayer in John 17 and the theme of God’s glory, it is important to consider specific facets that resonate with our understanding of the Father, the Son, and ourselves. One aspect of the Father’s uniqueness lies in His boundless love for us, a love identical to the affection He has for the Son, as highlighted in verse 23: “…so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” This profound love is manifested in the Father sending His Son to make it possible for us to be given eternal life (vs 3).
Jesus’ prayer in John 17 exudes confidence in the completion of His divine work, assuring us that God’s plan will undoubtedly unfold. Consider these statements of Jesus regarding what he has done and is doing:
- I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. (vs 4)
- I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. (vs 6)
- I have given them the words that you gave me (vs 8)
- I am praying for them. (vs 9)
- I am glorified in them. (vs 10)
- I kept them in your name (vs 12)
- I have guarded them (vs 12)
- I have given them your word. (vs 14)
- As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. (vs 18)
- For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (vs 19)
- The glory that you have given me I have given to them (vs 22)
- I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Following this prayer, as Jesus enters the garden, the other gospels present a different view, where Jesus, expressing His humanity, faces the trials to come. In that moment, He confirms His obedience to the Father. That obedience was already assured and is reflected in this earlier prayer. and Jesus not only displays obedience but also makes a conscious choice to save us, declaring in verse 19, “And for their sake, I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
As we engage in prayer today, think about these truths:
- The Father loves you: His love is profound, mirroring the affection He has for the Son.
- Jesus set Himself apart for your sake: His sacrificial consecration is a testament to His deep love for you.
- Jesus has completed the work: We can pray with boldness, knowing that Jesus has done all for us.
- The Glory of God is expressed through you: As a recipient of divine love and grace, you are a living expression of God’s glory in all His persons.
May these reflections infuse your prayers with gratitude, understanding, and a deep sense of connection to the boundless love and glory of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.