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John 17

26 verses

TL;DR

Jesus prays for His disciples’ glorification, unity, and sanctification, asking the Father to preserve them as He returns.

Summary

In this prayer, Jesus addresses the Father, announcing the hour has come and asking that the Father glorify Him so that He may, in turn, glorify the Father. He recounts how He has already glorified the Father on earth and finished the work God entrusted to Him. Jesus intercedes for the disciples whom He has given to the world, urging the Father to keep them in His name and to preserve them from loss. He prays for their unity, saying that His joy and truth may be fully experienced by them, and asks that they be sanctified through the truth of God’s word. Jesus also petitions that those who will believe through His testimony may join in this unity, and that all believers may share in the divine oneness He enjoys with the Father. He expresses a desire that the disciples may be with Him, seeing His glory, and reminds the world of God’s pre‑existent love for both Jesus and His people.

Outline
  1. Jesus seeks the Father's glorification and recounts His earthly work
  2. He intercedes for the disciples’ preservation, unity, and sanctification
  3. He hopes for believers worldwide to share in the divine oneness and glory
Themes
Intercession for believersUnity and onenessSanctification and divine truth
Keywords
prayerintercessionunitysanctificationtruthworldglory
People
JesusFather (God)disciples
Places
earthworld
Things
eternal lifeglorytruthsanctificationJesus' word
Key Verses
  • John 17:1: Jesus opens the prayer, calling the hour upon and asking for His glorification.
  • John 17:11: Jesus asks the Father to keep His disciples united as He and the Father are united.
  • John 17:19: He declares His self‑sanctification so that believers may be sanctified through truth.
Questions
  • What does Jesus mean when he says "the hour is come"?
  • How does Jesus describe the relationship between the Father, Himself, and the disciples?
  • In what way does the prayer illustrate the role of truth in sanctification?
  • What does the prayer reveal about Jesus’ view of the world’s reception of His message?
  • How does Jesus’ intercession reflect His love for the disciples?
Sentiment

positive
The prayer is hopeful, loving, and earnest, though it acknowledges suffering and the world’s opposition.