25Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. A divided church loses persuasive force. The danger in such an exercise, however, is that it might give the false impression that Jesus is praying for individual disciples rather than the community of faith at large. The union of the disciples with Father, Son, and Spirit makes the impossible possible. Christ, as one with the Father, claimed on behalf of all that had been given to him, and should in due time believe on him, that they should be brought to heaven; and that there the whole company of the redeemed might behold his glory as their beloved Friend and Brother, and therein find happiness. “so that the world (kosmos) may believe you sent me” (v. 21b). The real holiness of all true Christians is the fruit of Christ's death, by which the gift of the Holy Ghost was purchased; he gave himself for his church, to sanctify it. He did not pray that his disciples should be removed out of the world, that they might escape the rage of men, for they had a great work to do for the glory of God, and the benefit of mankind. 2 * just as you gave him authority over all people,b so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. John 17 - In-depth verse-by-verse Bible study and commentary of John chapter 17 in plain English. It is through his cross and open tomb that Jesus returns to the glory that he enjoyed with the Father before the creation of the world (17:5). may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me. John 17 has been the subject of my personal Lectio the… When he prays for his disciples, he prays, “I desire” (thelo) with no qualification. Jesus, the Eternal High Priest, is in direct conflict with Caiaphas, the Jewish High Priest in Jerusalem for that year. W. Hall Harris III is Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and is also the Project Director and Managing Editor for the NET Bible … D.A. Email. Malcolm, Lois, in Van Harn, Roger (ed. They are mission-oriented and involve hardship as well as reward. However, we also need to recognize that Jesus’ prayer has been answered, at least in part. The Spirit of God in true Christians is opposed to the spirit of the world. We should hear Jesus’ prayer as a prayer for us today. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1983). THE CONTEXT. Cousar, Charles B.; Gaventa, Beverly R.; McCann, J. Clinton; and Newsome, James D., Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV—Year C (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994), Craddock, Fred R.; Hayes, John H.; Holladay, Carl R.; and Tucker, Gene M., Preaching Through the Christian Year C (Valley Forge: Trinity Press International, 1994), Gossip, Arthur John and Howard, Wilbert F., The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 8 (Nashville: Abingdon, 1952). Security from evil is … “Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word” (v. 20b). The “Our Father” would better be called The Model Prayer or The Disciple’s Prayer, because it is a prayer that Jesus gives us to pray. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) John 17:20-26 . Dummelow called it "Christ's high priestly prayer, because in it he solemnly consecrates himself to be priest and victim in the approaching sacrifice." Observe the foundation on which this plea is grounded, All mine are thine, and thine are mine. The more they dispute about lesser things, the more they throw doubts upon Christianity. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. Even though Jesus has tried to prepare them for his coming death and resurrection, they have failed to understand. 1 After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Our Lord prayed as a man, and as the Mediator of his people; yet he spoke with majesty and authority, as one with and equal to the Father. In this Gospel, Christ’s glory is made fully manifest in his death, resurrection, and ascension (thought of as one continuous action in this Gospel). We ought to think of this prayer, rather than the “Our Father,” as the Lord’s Prayer, because it is the prayer in which Jesus pours out his heart. (6-10) His prayer. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Wilt thou not secure them? The love of God welling up within us fuels our witness, and makes it impossible for the world to ignore the Christ whose name we bear. (1-5) His prayer for his disciples. John 17 is the real Lord's prayer. It is by taking up their crosses and following Jesus that his disciples share in his glory (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). Jesus Prays for His Disciples. The most powerful testimony to the loving character of God will take place on the cross, where the Father will give “his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (3:16). 17. Jesus Prays for his Disciples. Jesus entirely devoted himself to his undertaking, and all the parts of it, especially the offering up himself without spot unto God, by the eternal Spirit. 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