Please explain the meaning of John 17.
Let’s begin by reading John 13:1, “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” The Passover was approaching, and the Lord knew that His death was imminent. In John, chapters 13-16, the Lord tenderly prepares His disciples for life without His physical presence. In chapter 13:1-17, the Lord washes His disciples’ feet and explains the purpose in doing so in verses 14-15, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
In verses 21-30, the Lord tells His disciples that one of them would betray Him. Although the disciples did not suspect Judas of such an evil deed, it was revealed that it was indeed Judas that would betray the Lord, and he left the group to complete his evil deed. We have the words of the Lord to Judas in verse 27, “And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.”
From John 13:31-16:33, the Lord speaks intimately with His disciples…teaching them, assuring them, strengthening them, and preparing them for His absence. He completes His words with them by saying, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33).
In John 17, we are privileged to hear the Lord Jesus praying to His Father. I can only imagine how it impacted His disciples to hear the Lord speak such a loving and selfless prayer to His Father. We are also allowed to know His words and we should consider the beauty and power of these words before the Lord Jesus went to the cross to die for our sins.
We can divide this chapter by considering the petitions the Lord presented to His Father. He prayed:
* That He might be glorified as the Son who has glorified the Father (verse 1).
* That He might be restored to His eternal glory (verse 5). (Read Philippians 2:5-11)
* For the safety of His followers from the world (verse 11) and Satan, the evil one (verse 15).
* For the sanctification of He followers (verse 17).
* For the spiritual unity of ALL believers (verse 21) (Read Ephesians 4:1-4).
* That the world would believe on Him and that He was sent from the Father (verse 21).
* That those who believe on Him might be with Him in heaven to behold and share His glory (verse 24).
Not only was the Lord praying for the disciples that were with Him at the moment, but He prayed for ALL those who would come to know Him as savior. John 17:20 tells us, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also WHICH SHALL BELIEVE ON ME through their word.” So, dear believer, the Lord Jesus prayed for you that fateful night before He went to the cross.
We learn in 1 John 2:1 that the Lord is still praying for us. That says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 4:14 says, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” How precious the thought that Christ continues as our ADVOCATE, our MEDIATOR, and our HIGH PRIEST. (416.4)