Dark stone rooftops of Jerusalem low in the frame beneath a deep evening sky with the first stars.

The Gospel According to

John 17

On the night before the cross, Jesus looks up and prays out loud, for Himself, for His friends, and for you.

26 verses≈ 5 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Prayer for the Son

Looking straight up through the twisted branches of an old olive tree into a deep evening sky.

When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.

0:36

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent

John 17:3

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Who He prays for

Whiteboard

The prayer moves outward like ripples on water. Jesus prays about His own hour, then for the friends in the room, then for everyone who will hear about Him through them. That last circle has room for you.

Question

Quick question

Jesus says plainly what eternal life is.

How does Jesus define eternal life in this prayer?

Prayer for the Disciples

Jesus

But now I am coming to You; and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them. I have given them Your word and the world has hated them. For they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

John 17:15–16

As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world. For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.

Reflect

In the world, not of it

Jesus does not ask the Father to “take them out of the world.” He sends them into it, the way He was sent. Where has God placed you this week: a job, a classroom, a family, a street? What would it look like to be sent there, and not just stuck there?

Prayer for All Believers

Jesus

Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.

so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them

John 17:26

Pray

He prayed for you

Jesus prayed for “those who will believe in Me through their message.” If you believe, someone carried that message to you, and Jesus was already praying for you that night. Thank Him for that. Then pray His prayer for the believers around you: “that all of them may be one.”

You’ve experienced

John 17

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A verse to carry with you

Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.

John 17:17

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