Reflection on John 17:1-26

Do you want a peak into Jesus’ prayer life? Look no further: John chapter 17.

Here, we walk upon holy ground as we witness Jesus intimate prayers to the Father the night before His crucifixion.  We know the importance of His words by the timing of them. So, in His parting words, his final prayers, what does He pray for?

This chapter can be logistically split into 3 sections:

1.       Jesus prays for Himself

2.       Jesus prays for His 11 disciples

3.       Jesus prays for all who will come to believe in Him

In the first section, the theme is quite clear. Jesus prays for God’s glory. He did not come to this world to live for Himself, but to live out the Father’s plan to bring glory to the Father. One of my favourite verses is included in this section where Jesus describes the eternal life that He has authority to give. Here are His words:

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Eternal life is ’defined not only for its endless duration but also for its abundant quality, since it represents a relationship (‘know’) with “the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom [God has] sent.” -Darrell Bock

This is beautiful to me. The word ‘know’ in scripture does not connote simply knowing about, but an intimate relationship with. What a glorious truth that eternal life is about the quality of our relationship with the Father & Jesus! Jesus came to forgive sins, yes, but much more than that. He desires His disciples to have a thriving, satisfying relationship with God. 

The second section shows us what was important for Jesus to pray for His disciples as He gets ready to leave. These are His parting prayers for them. What an intimate moment that John witnessed and later recorded! Here are the 4 things Jesus prays for his 11:

1.       The Father’s protection for their unity

2.       Jesus’ fullness of joy within them

3.       Protection from the evil one

4.       Their sanctification by the Word (becoming more like Jesus)

All of these sweet prayers are rooted in the disciples union and communion with Him and are prayed for the sake of the MISSION they are called to. They are called to union with God and each other so that the world would know they are Christ's disciples. Jesus prays for JOY that flows from this abiding relationship with Jesus. In Bock's words, He prays for "protection from the evil one as they engage the world in mission." And finally sanctification is a setting apart and dedicating them to God's service as they grow in holiness.

Finally in the third section, Jesus prays for all believers.  We see a familiar theme: UNITY for the sake of the MISSION. Jesus calls for a union among disciples that can ONLY be lived out if there is a thriving union and communion with the Father & the Son. Our relationship with God is what unites us as followers. It is not our age, stage, hobbies or our preferences. It is our love for God and communion with Him that should unite us as followers. That is why when the world sees different types of people worshiping together it is incomprehensible. It is the power of the gospel that unites people. And it is this unity that allows us to give ourselves to the mission with abandon.  

Jesus did not come to this earth to live a life for Himself. So too, we are not called to live for ourselves , but for HIS MISSION. The Father has sent the Son into the world, and now, the Son sends His disciples into the world to tell others about Him, His sacrifice for sins and the eternal life He offers. 

Let this amazing prayer speak to your heart. God desires a thriving relationship with you. He desires to fill your heart with great joy and protect and empower you as you join Him in the most important calling in the world: to make disciples who will make disciples flowing from this joy-filled communion with Him.