John 17 - Jesus Prays for His Disciples

Joh 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: Jesus looked up to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. (John 12:23). "Glorify Your Son so He can give glory back to you." (John 13:31). It was soon time for Christ to be crucified and He was praying to the Heavenly Father. Note: His eyes were on heaven. Our eyes should be focused on heaven when we also pray. Too often our eyes and hearts are on other things when we pray. (Matthew 6:5). When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who pretend piety by praying publicly in front of others, or in the church where everyone can see you. If so, that is all the reward you will ever get, and your prayers may not be answered. It may make you feel so holy or religious in front of others, but that is about the extent of it.

Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. The Father has given Christ all authority over everyone. (Over all flesh). Now Jesus gives eternal life to each one that the Father has given Him. "His people are said to have been given to Him by the Father throughout the entire prayer." (John 17:2).  It is the Heavenly Father who chooses us and gives us to Jesus. (John 6:44).    

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. The way to eternal life is to know the One True God and Jesus Christ, the One the Father has sent. (1 John 5:11-12). Through the Word of God, (His written record). God has given us eternal life through Christ. "Your choice." Eternal life through Christ, or death through Satan. Yes, as we said many time before, the devil holds the power of death. (Hebrews 2:14). But, Satan's power was broken by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. Christ is praying to the Father and saying that He has brought glory to Him by completing the work the Father gave Him to do. "Jesus gives us work to do also; the work of telling others the "Good News" about the wonderful grace of God." (Acts 20:24). This is your main purpose if you are a disciple of Christ.

Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Now Father, bring Me into the glory We shared before the world began. (John 1:1-2). "Before this world age began." Read our newsletter study topic: "Three Earth Ages."

Joh 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. I revealed You to the ones You gave Me from this world. They were always Yours. (From the beginning in the first world age). You gave them to Me, and they kept Your word.

Joh 17:7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you. What kind of things? (John 12:49-50). "God gave Jesus His words."

Joh 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. Jesus passed on the message the Heavenly Father has given Him. They accepted the message and now "believe" that He has come from the Father. "God gave the words to Christ, Christ passed on the words to the disciples, they passed the word to us, we pass the word to others." (It goes on and on forever; the word is eternal).

Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. Christ' prayer was not for the world in general, but for His disciples. Are you a disciple of Christ? "The ones the Father has given Him." Those who are written in the book of life. (Revelation 13:8).

Joh 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. All souls belong to God. (Ezekiel 18:4). God gave Christ authority over all souls to bring Him glory.  

Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. I am departing from this world (going back to the Father), but they are staying in this world. We must remain in the world for now. But, Jesus asked the Father to protect us by the power of His name so that we will be united just as the Father and the Son are united as one. "The holiness of God has separated the disciples from the world." (1 John 2:15-16). If you are involved and love the things of this world, this shows that you do not really love God. Always thinking of money and material things. Always trying to stay ahead of the other guy. Those who live by the ways of the world better wake up and get their act together; the day of the Lord is coming. (2 Peter 3:10).

Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. Christ protected the disciples while He was here and guarded them so no one was lost. Except one (son of perdition), who was headed for destruction as the Scriptures foretold. Who is this son of perdition? (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Do not be deceived! Remember, Christ will not return until the "Great Apostasy." (rebellion against God, fallen away of the church, or one who gives up their professed beliefs). Who is this son of perdition? Satan! "The false messiah." (Revelation 17:8). 

Joh 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. Now I am coming to you Father. I told them many things while I was with them in the world so they would be filled with joy. "Don't miss out on all the joy as a Christian." (Psalm 16:11, Galatians 5:22).

Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I have given them Your Word Father, and the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. (1 John 4:5-6, 1 John 5:19-20). As true Christians, we don't belong to the world, and don't follow the ways of the world. i.e. If you belong to the world, you will follow the ways of the world, but if you belong to God, you will follow His ways, and those who know God will listen to you.

Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13, 1 John 5:19). "The Lord's Prayer." God will always deliver us from evil as stated in (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will never let any temptation come upon us that we cannot handle. He will always show us a way out. There were three things the Lord requested for His disciples: To be kept from the evil one (Satan, verse 15), to be sanctified through the truth (the Word, verse 17), and to behold His glory (verse 24).

Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. They no longer belong to this world anymore than I do.

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your Word, which is truth. "The truth is a great separating force." Even among family and friends. (Matthew 10:35). Isn't that common with families and friends today? It is hard to get two people to believe the same way in the home today, let alone the whole family. It appears everyone wants their own little belief or way to worship. If people you hang with don't know the truth, or will refuse to receive it, move on. (Many that are hungry for the truth will listen to you).

Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. Just as You sent Me into the world, I am sending them into the world. (Ephesians 3:7). It is by God's grace we are given the privilege of serving Him by spreading the Good News.

Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. I gave Myself as a holy sacrifice, so that they can be made holy by Your truth. (This shows the meaning of sanctify; not making holy as to moral character, but setting apart for God. The Lord was the antitype of all the offerings, which were holy unto Yahveh).

Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; I am not praying only for these disciples, but also for all who will ever believe in Me through their message. (Romans 16:26, Hebrews 7:25). Jesus Christ is able to save all those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. (Romans 8:34, 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 John 2:1-2, Revelation 8:3-4). 

Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are One. You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us, so that the world will believe You sent Me. "The unity that comes from a common relationship with God." (1 John 1:3). The disciples have seen it and experienced it; you can also have this same fellowship with Christ.

Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I gave them the glory You gave Me Father, so they will be one as We are One. (Colossians 3:4). We will all share the glory with Christ when He returns.

Joh 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience the same perfect unity, that the world will know that You sent Me, and that You love them as much as You love Me. "The Heavenly Father does love you as His own child." We are to love God and others as He loves us. (1 John 4:19). Our love for Him comes as a result of Him loving us first. He chose you for His own pleasure. (Revelation 4:11).

Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Jesus wants us all to be where He is, then we can see the glory the Father has given Him, because the Father loved Jesus even before the world began. (Before the foundation of the world).

Joh 17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. Heavenly Father, the world doesn't know You, but I do; and these disciples know You sent Me. (John 16:27).

Joh 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. "I have revealed You to them, and I will continue to do so. Then Your love for Me will be in them, and I will be in them." (Psalm 119).

Keep the faith,
Barton