17th Mar 2024
John 17:1-26
John 17 marks the end of the famous Last Supper. After pouring words of truth and encouragement into His disciples, Jesus ended the meal with a lengthy prayer, also known as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. This is the longest prayer of Jesus recorded in the Bible, composed of three parts: Jesus’ prayer for himself, His disciples, and all believers. Through Jesus' prayer, may we reflect on our prayers and live the life of a disciple that Jesus prayed for.
1. Jesus prays to be glorified (1-5)
Look at verse 1a. “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:” By this time, Jesus has been repeatedly teaching his disciples about his suffering, death, and resurrection. After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed. Looking to heaven is the traditional Jewish posture of prayer (Ps 123:1). The act of lifting up one’s eyes is a recognition that I’m speaking to someone who is above all, who reigns over all, whose throne is in heaven, who sees everything going on the earth and in my mind. What does Jesus first pray to God? Jesus prays, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” Jesus’ words “the time has come” refer to his crucifixion, dying on the cross, as the Lamb of God. That was Jesus's primary mission in this world. The Father God set the timing and manner of Jesus’ death. Jesus was fully the Son of God, but at the same time, he was fully human. He has all the attributes of God and humanity. So, Jesus feels physical pain as much as we do. Can you imagine how painful it is to be nailed on the cross? What about the pain from getting flogged multiple times? Not to mention, cross-punishment was used for the most severe criminals then. Jesus was without sin. He was totally undeserving of this cruel punishment. We need to clearly understand here that dying on the cross was a very difficult task, even for Jesus. From a human point of view, it was such a painful and sorrowful event. But Jesus sought to glorify God through his death. Paul says in Philippians 2:6-8 “Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
We see here that Jesus' first and foremost purpose in life was to fully obey God’s will and glorify God, even to death. How can Jesus’ dying on the cross and resurrection glorify God?
Verse 2. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.
God gave Jesus authority over all people to give them eternal life. Here, eternal life does not simply mean longevity, a quantity of life. Rather, eternal life has to do with the quality of life. When God first created humans in his image, they could find true satisfaction from a relationship with God the creator, the source of life. However, the relationship between God and humans was broken when they attempted to be like God and disobeyed God’s command. Since then, humans have been suffering under the power of sin and death. Humans could not find true satisfaction from anything in this world and were living a miserable life. However, because God loved humans so much, He planned salvation through Jesus Christ after Adam's sin (Gen 3:15). If we believe that Jesus became the ransom for our sins on the cross, we can be born again through the Holy Spirit and obtain eternal life once again.
A broken relationship between me and God is restored only through Jesus. This is what verse 3 tells us. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. The word “know” here does not mean simply knowing that God exists or facts about God. Rather, it implies having a relationship with him based on personal experience. To truly know the only true God is to believe, trust, and love him, knowing that he sent Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Even though God is invisible, if we earnestly desire intimacy with God, He will meet us personally. At that moment, our spiritual eyes will be opened, and we can enjoy fellowship with God again, experiencing eternal life here on earth. People saved only by God’s grace would then realize God's amazing love, wisdom, and power.
Jesus prayed in verse 4, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” What was the work that the Father God gave Jesus to do? It was to reveal the only true God through his words and works. It was to show the world that God is living, God is holy, and God is love. It was to die for us to take away our sins. Jesus had finished the work of raising his disciples who would succeed his ministry. Jesus’ word “finish” also anticipates his last words from the cross, “It is finished.” Jesus’ death fulfilled God’s salvation purpose. Through raising his disciples and his death on the cross, Jesus glorified God and was ready to leave this world.
Jesus prayed in verse 5, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” There was a glory that Jesus shared with the Father even before the world began. It is something that we can only imagine. From the beginning of creation, Jesus has possessed magnificent glory with God. He temporarily set this glory aside by taking on human form, but now through the cross and resurrection, Jesus prays to God for the restoration of this glory again.
Was Jesus’ prayer answered? Of course. In Philippians 2:9-11, Paul said, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Just before Stephen was martyred, full of the Holy Spirit, he said “Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56)
2. Jesus prays for his disciples (6-19)
After a most glorious and meaningful prayer for himself, Jesus began speaking of his disciples. Jesus had served his disciples by revealing God to them. Verse 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.” Here, “revealed” means to make known what was hidden. The disciples had heard about God since childhood. They had many ideas about God; some were distorted. In fact, they did not know God. Jesus revealed God to them through his life. They were drawn into a personal relationship with God. This transformed them into godly people who now know that everything Jesus has comes from God and who could reveal God to others. Raising Jesus’ disciples begins with revealing God through our lives.
Jesus had also served them by giving them God’s words. Through Mark’s gospel, we see how the disciples repeatedly forgot and doubted Jesus' words. Despite witnessing their weaknesses and wavering faith, Jesus did not give up on them. He consistently shared the word of God with them. Eventually, their spiritual eyes were opened, and they believed that Jesus came from God and that God sent Jesus. Bible teaching can be slow and laborious. Sometimes we feel that nothing is happening. But the word of God is truth, and it has power. Hebrews 4:12 reads, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” When the word of God starts working in each person, our sinful thoughts and attitudes of the heart cannot be hidden, leading us to the cross of Jesus. Only through God's word can we be set free from sin and truly live a meaningful life.
In verses 11-19, we find three clear prayer topics Jesus had for his disciples: to be protected, to be one, and to be sanctified. First of all, Jesus prayed for his disciples to be protected. Specifically, to be protected from the world and the evil one. Here, the world means the system of this world, the way unbelievers live. The world hates Christians because they are not of the world (do not belong to the world), just as Jesus is not of the world. Indeed, we live in times where biblical values are often under attack and perceived as outdated. We may want to pray that God would take his people out of the world. But Jesus did not pray to take his disciples out of the world but again prayed for them to be protected.
Jesus also prayed for his disciples to be one. As we receive God’s love and love God, we can also love one another with God’s love. We can be one in this love. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn 13:34-35). Let’s pray to love one another, become one, and reveal Jesus to the world.
Jesus also prayed for his disciples to be sanctified. To be sanctified means to be set apart, to be holy. God’s word is truth, and we can be sanctified by this truth. Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.” God’s truth can cleanse us of selfishness, pride, lust, hatred, doubt, etc., and give us godly attributes: love, humility, and righteousness. God’s truth can transform any kind of sinner into a holy saint. Holiness is the most important pursuit for a child of God, especially for leaders (2Ti 2:22).
Collectively, through Jesus’ prayer for his disciples, we see how Jesus’ disciples should live in the world. They live in the world but should not be isolated from the world. Christians are not to escape from the world to avoid conflicts and get along only with other Christians, neglecting unbelievers. Jesus’ disciples live in the world but should not imitate the world. Instead, Jesus wants his disciples to permeate the world. It’s like the salt dissolves in the water and becomes invisible, but at the same time, the water becomes salty because of the salt. Jesus’ disciples are to reveal Jesus to unbelievers through their lives just as Jesus reveals God to them. May God sanctify us by God’s truth and use our lives to reveal Jesus Christ to the world.
3. Jesus prays for all believers (20-26)
In verses 20-26, Jesus prays for those who will believe in him through the message of his disciples. Did you know that Jesus prayed for you and me 2000 years ago? What did Jesus pray for us? Jesus prayed for us to be one, like the Father and Son are one. This does not mean we should be the same person, thinking and speaking alike. That’s uniformity. Jesus meant unity, which is one in purpose, spirit, and love. Jesus wasn’t praying for Christians to be united in doctrinal statements or denominational structures but united in their relation to Him as He is to the Father God. Jesus repeats this prayer for unity in verse 23: “I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.” Unity is not something that we achieve or obtain. It’s what we believers already had. Galatians 3:28,29 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” If we accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior, we belong to Christ, and all become one in Jesus. Having said that, we need to endeavor to keep that unity. Ephesians 4:3 reads, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” We should be humble, gentle, and patient, bearing one another in love (Eph 4:2).
Why did Jesus pray for unity? He explains the reason why twice in these verses. Verse 21: “so that the world may believe that you have sent me,” and in verse 23, “Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Jesus wants the world to see him through his followers—that is, through those who believe the message of Jesus Christ.
Jesus concludes his prayer in verse 26 “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” It is a huge blessing for believers to have God’s love in them and to also have Jesus in them. Jesus prayed for us 2000 years ago, and he is still praying and will pray for us. Hebrews 7:24,25 reads “but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
As I prepared my sermon, I was impressed by Jesus' prayer, which even in the face of impending death, prioritized glorifying God the Father. Through God's one-sided grace, I was saved from the sins of selfishness and lust and began to live the life of a disciple of Jesus. When I accepted the call of being a gospel worker and missionary, the Lord led our family to Austin, Texas, two years ago. With God's help, I received the grace to have Bible studies with students and preach on Sundays, despite my limited English. I achieved results at work beyond my abilities, earning recognition from colleagues. Reflecting on today's passage, I repent that I still often sought my glory over God's glory. I repent that I judge others based on my standards and failed to love. Knowing that Jesus prayed for me 2,000 years ago and continues to intercede for me even now brings great comfort and strength to me. I pray to live a holy life as a disciple through the truth of God's Word. I also pray to learn humility and love from Jesus and to achieve beautiful unity with other Christians, so that through my life, may Jesus be revealed to others.
In conclusion, even in the face of death, Jesus prayed for the glory of God and fully obeyed the Father's will. Through Jesus' sacrificial blood on the cross, we have obtained forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Like Jesus’ prayer, may we continually pursue sanctification through the truth of God’s Word. May we also keep complete unity and reveal the love of Jesus Christ to the world through a beautiful life. Amen.