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:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
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.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
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.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
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.
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.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
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.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
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.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
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.
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.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
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.
Chapter 17 of the Book of John in the King James Version (KJV) is often referred to as the 'High Priestly Prayer' of Jesus. This chapter is unique to John's Gospel and is essentially a monologue, a prayer from Jesus to His Father in heaven. As such, it is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in the New Testament. The chapter is divided into three main sections: Jesus prays for Himself (verses 1-5), His disciples (verses 6-19), and for all believers (verses 20-26). Each of these sections has distinctive themes and theological implications.
The opening section of chapter 17 begins with Jesus looking toward heaven and praying for Himself. He speaks of the 'hour' that has come, a reference to His impending death and resurrection. This 'hour' is not a moment of despair but a moment of glorification. Jesus sees His death, resurrection, and ascension as the ultimate fulfillment of His mission on earth. This is a crucial theme in John's Gospel, where Jesus' death is not a defeat but a victory, the 'lifting up' of the Son of Man.
In this prayer, Jesus speaks of the intimate relationship between Him and the Father. He prays for the Father to glorify Him so that He may glorify the Father. The reciprocal glorification indicates the unity and mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son. Jesus also speaks of the authority given to Him over all flesh, to grant eternal life. Eternal life, according to Jesus, is to 'know' the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. This 'knowledge' is not merely intellectual but relational, implying an intimate, personal relationship with God.
In the second section of the chapter, Jesus shifts His focus to His disciples. He prays for their protection, unity, joy, and sanctification. These prayers reflect Jesus' deep concern for His followers in a hostile world. The theme of 'the world' is prominent in this section. The 'world' in John's Gospel often represents humanity in its rebellion against God. Jesus acknowledges that His disciples are not 'of the world', just as He is not 'of the world'. Yet, they are sent into the world with a mission.
Jesus prays for His disciples to be 'one', just as He and the Father are one. This unity is not merely organizational but spiritual, rooted in the mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son. The unity of the disciples is a reflection of the divine unity and a testimony to the world of Jesus' divine mission. Jesus also prays for His disciples to be sanctified, set apart for God's service. He asks this in the context of the truth, stating that God's word is truth. This indicates that sanctification is not merely moral but also involves living in accordance with God's revealed truth.
In the final section of the chapter, Jesus extends His prayer to include all who will believe in Him through the disciples' word. This includes all future believers, linking the original disciples with the ongoing mission of the Church. Jesus prays for the unity of all believers, a unity grounded in the divine unity of the Father and the Son. This unity is not only a spiritual reality but also a missional necessity, as it serves to authenticate the message of the Gospel to the world.
Jesus also prays for the believers to be with Him and to behold His glory. This is a profound expression of Jesus' desire for His followers to share in His eternal life and glory. The prayer ends with Jesus expressing His love for His followers and His desire for them to know the love of the Father.
Chapter 17 of John's Gospel provides profound insights into the person and work of Jesus, the nature of God, and the mission of the Church. The chapter underscores the divine identity of Jesus, His unity with the Father, and His authority to grant eternal life. It also highlights the intimate relationship between Jesus and His followers, a relationship that extends to the Father. The chapter thus underscores the Trinitarian understanding of God, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in intimate relationship.
The chapter also emphasizes the mission of the Church. Jesus' prayer for His disciples and all believers underscores the importance of unity, protection, joy, and sanctification in the life and mission of the Church. The Church is called to be 'in the world' but not 'of the world', reflecting the holiness and truth of God in a world in rebellion against Him. The unity of the Church serves as a testimony to the world of Jesus' divine mission and the truth of the Gospel.
Furthermore, the chapter underscores the centrality of love in the life and mission of the Church. Jesus' prayer reflects His love for His followers and His desire for them to know the love of the Father. This love is not merely emotional but sacrificial, as evidenced by Jesus' impending death on the cross. The chapter thus calls the Church to a life of sacrificial love, following the example of Jesus.
In conclusion, Chapter 17 of the Book of John in the KJV Holy Bible is a profound and rich chapter that provides deep insights into the person and work of Jesus, the nature of God, and the mission of the Church. It serves as a powerful reminder of the divine identity of Jesus, the intimate relationship between Jesus and His followers, the unity and mission of the Church, and the centrality of love in the life and mission of the Church. It is a chapter that continues to inspire, challenge, and guide the Church in its journey of faith.
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