Study on the Gospel of John Chapter 17

Upper room discourse (13-17) continues. In chapter 17, Jesus prays for Himself, disciples, and future disciples. This is His longest recorded prayer in the Bible. Synoptic Gospels have the prayer in Gethsemane but John only recorded this prayer.

In His prayer, these words are used multiple times - glory, oneness (unity), love, know (truth), world (unbelief).

Outline and Exposition

Prays for Himself (1-5)

He asks Father to glorify Him.

(1) When Jesus had spoken these words: end of chapter 16, e.g., “… I have overcome the world.”

Prays for His Disciples (6-19)

For His disciples, He asks to protect, give joy, and sanctify them.

(7) they know that everything: only as people see the Father at work in Jesus do they have a proper concept of God. The disciples had at last reached this understanding.

(13) my joy: see 15:11

(14) not of the world: for they have been “born of the Spirit” (3:8) and are “children of God” (1:12)

(15) not ask that you take them out of the world: the world is where Jesus’ disciples are to do their work; Jesus does not wish them to be taken from it until that work is done - see v. 18

(17) Sanctify: Greek “Set them apart (for holy service to God)”

(18) As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.: Jesus’ mission is one of the dominant themes of this Gospel and is given as the pattern for his followers (see v. 3); we may long for heaven, but it is on earth that our work is done

Prays for All Believers (20-26)

For future believers, He asks to see His glory and to be united.

(20) for those who will believe in me through their word: Jesus had just spoken of the mission of his followers (v. 18)

Topical

Glory

In John’s Gospel, Christ revealed His glory to his disciples by the miracles he performed (2:11) and by his death and resurrection. (1:14) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In this chapter, John recored the Lord revealing His glory with:

• (1) glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you: the glory of the Father and that of the Son are closely connected, and the death by which Jesus would glorify God would lead to eternal life for believers.
• (4) I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.: Christ’s mission was not self-centered.
• (5) the glory that I had with you before the world existed: Jesus asks the Father to return him to his previous position of glory, to exchange humiliation for glorification. This occurred at Christ’s resurrection and exaltation to God’s right hand.
• (22) The glory that you have given me I have given to them: believers are to be characterized by humility and service, just as Christ was.

Unity

Jesus emphasizes unity in - His Father and Him, Him and believers, and among believers:

• (11) that they may become perfectly one: Here the unity is already given, not something to be achieved. The meaning is “that they continually be one” rather than “that they become one.” The unity is to be like that between the Father and the Son. It is much more than unity of organization but the church’s present divisions are the result of the failures of Christians.
• (22) that they may be one even as we are one: again the Lord emphasized the importance of unity among his followers, and again the standard is the unity of the Father and the Son.
• (23) I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one: there are two indwelling here; that of the Son in believers, and that of the Father in the Son. It is because the latter is a reality that the former can take place. Also the emphasis on unity has an evangelistic aim. This time it is connected not only with the mission of Jesus but also with God’s love for people and for Christ.

References

• 2002 NIV Study Bible (Zondervan)
• John MacArthur Study Bible
• http://kcm.co.kr/bible/kor/Joh17.html
• https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17&version=ESV
• https://biblehub.com/john/17-1.htm