John 17:1-19
October Memory Verse: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (NIV)
John 17:1-19
John 17 captures the High Priestly Prayer. Jesus prayed for those who believed in him as the Messiah, but as we will see tomorrow, he prayed for all those who would believe in the future. Jesus prayed for you and for me. What a mind-blowing idea.
Chapter 17 opens with, “When Jesus had spoken these things...” What things? We need to rewind a few verses. The disciples affirmed their belief that Jesus came from God (16:30). Jesus tells them they will be scattered, which we understand will be after the crucifixion—they have no idea that in a matter of hours Jesus will be arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. Then Jesus makes a remarkable statement, “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.
In a few short hours, Jesus will hang gasping for air, thorns on his head, and his body ripped open in many places. It is easy to see how the disciples might not trust his words, “Take heart; I have overcome the world.” Jesus, knowing his disciples would falter, prayed. “The hour has come…”
Notice first the relationship and shared characteristics between Father and Son—glory (1), authority (2), preexistence (5). Jesus said, “I have manifested your name” This reminds me of Malachi 1:11, “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations.” God is jealous for the fame of His own name. And yet, Philippians 2:9–10 tells us, “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” What the Father has is shared with the Son, and in return the Son will give it all back to the Father.
Their unity is a picture of the unity believers share with God and with one another. Jesus prays this starting in verse 11b, “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”
One of my favorite lines in this whole passage is verse 17, Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. If we are going to thrive in a world that hates us, that hates and killed our Savior, we need God’s Word. We need His presence. Jesus prayed for our sanctification—that we might be made more like Christ. This is powerful stuff.
Several things jump out at this passage. First, Jesus modeled prayer. If Jesus prayed, maybe we should pray.
Second, Jesus prayed for His people knowing their heading into a time of trouble. Frankly, many of us pray when we’re in trouble. Suffering well requires preparation—we ought to pray before the trouble comes.
Thirdly, as we soak in this passage, we feel the weight of glory. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I approach the God of the Universe flippantly. Jesus was with God before Creation (5), then we pray as if we’re saying, “Sup, Bro…” While (to my knowledge) I’ve never said those words in prayer, I can confess at times casually strolling into His presence.
Finally, we cannot escape the importance Jesus puts on God’s Word that got left behind after He would be gone. God’s breathed-out Word matters in how we live in a hostile world.
What stood out to you from this passage? What is God saying to you through these truths?
By: Tyler Short
John 17:1-19
John 17 captures the High Priestly Prayer. Jesus prayed for those who believed in him as the Messiah, but as we will see tomorrow, he prayed for all those who would believe in the future. Jesus prayed for you and for me. What a mind-blowing idea.
Chapter 17 opens with, “When Jesus had spoken these things...” What things? We need to rewind a few verses. The disciples affirmed their belief that Jesus came from God (16:30). Jesus tells them they will be scattered, which we understand will be after the crucifixion—they have no idea that in a matter of hours Jesus will be arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. Then Jesus makes a remarkable statement, “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.
In a few short hours, Jesus will hang gasping for air, thorns on his head, and his body ripped open in many places. It is easy to see how the disciples might not trust his words, “Take heart; I have overcome the world.” Jesus, knowing his disciples would falter, prayed. “The hour has come…”
Notice first the relationship and shared characteristics between Father and Son—glory (1), authority (2), preexistence (5). Jesus said, “I have manifested your name” This reminds me of Malachi 1:11, “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations.” God is jealous for the fame of His own name. And yet, Philippians 2:9–10 tells us, “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” What the Father has is shared with the Son, and in return the Son will give it all back to the Father.
Their unity is a picture of the unity believers share with God and with one another. Jesus prays this starting in verse 11b, “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”
One of my favorite lines in this whole passage is verse 17, Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. If we are going to thrive in a world that hates us, that hates and killed our Savior, we need God’s Word. We need His presence. Jesus prayed for our sanctification—that we might be made more like Christ. This is powerful stuff.
Several things jump out at this passage. First, Jesus modeled prayer. If Jesus prayed, maybe we should pray.
Second, Jesus prayed for His people knowing their heading into a time of trouble. Frankly, many of us pray when we’re in trouble. Suffering well requires preparation—we ought to pray before the trouble comes.
Thirdly, as we soak in this passage, we feel the weight of glory. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I approach the God of the Universe flippantly. Jesus was with God before Creation (5), then we pray as if we’re saying, “Sup, Bro…” While (to my knowledge) I’ve never said those words in prayer, I can confess at times casually strolling into His presence.
Finally, we cannot escape the importance Jesus puts on God’s Word that got left behind after He would be gone. God’s breathed-out Word matters in how we live in a hostile world.
What stood out to you from this passage? What is God saying to you through these truths?
By: Tyler Short
2 Comments
4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
This verse grabbed my heart today. Jesus was without sin and brought glory to God with every thought, action, prayer, etc. As a follower of Christ it is my ambition to bring glory to Jesus with my life and actions. God has work for all of us to do who bear the name of Christ. Am I completing the work God gave me to do? Is The Church completing the work God gave her to do? Scripture teaches that the church is the bride of Christ and that He gave His life for her. Let's go out today, and every day, and complete the work God gave each of us to do. If each of us do our part, The Church will be an unstoppable force for the gospel.
Thank you Tyler. I feel like it really spoke to me when you pointed out how we approach God-not that I am disrespectful, but maybe need to pray with more awe of Him.