John 17

1. After Jesus said these things He looked toward heaven. Jesus prayed, “Father, the time [for Me to die on the cross] has come. [Hold Me up] so that I can give glory to You.

This can be called The Lord's Prayer. Jesus is showing us that what the world thinks is impossible can give God the glory. Nobody would think that dying on the cross would give God glory. God's plan was to do something that nobody would think of. He would send His son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for sin and to save all the ones who would believe this. God also gets the glory when we carry our cross for Him.

The rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 1 Corinthians 2:8, Matthew 16:24

2. You gave the Son power over all people so that the Son could give eternal life to all those people you have given to Him.

We are like a gift that Father gave to Jesus. John 6:37

3. And this is eternal life: that men can know you, the only true God, and that men can know Jesus Christ, the One you sent.

This is not only a type of life that lasts forever but it is a life that is lived while thinking of eternal things.

4 – 5

I finished the work You gave Me to do. I brought You glory on earth. And now, Father, give Me glory with you. Give Me the glory I had with You before the world was made.

He gave up his divine privileges He took the humble position of a servant and was born as a human being when He appeared in human form. Philippians 2:1 – 12

6. “You gave Me some men from the world. I have shown them Your Name. Those men belonged to you, and you gave them to Me. They have obeyed your teaching.

In the original language, Jesus means, “God saves.” Jesus also showed God's name by using the words, “I am.” Exodus 3:14

7 – 9

Now they know that everything You gave Me comes from you. I gave these men the words that you gave Me. They accepted those words. They know that I truly came from You. I pray for them now. I am not praying for the people in the world. But I am praying for those men You gave Me, because they are Yours.

Jesus was praying for disciples at this moment so that they can reach the world. Just because Jesus prayed separately for His disciples does not mean that He does not care about the rest of the world. In a few more words, Jesus will show that He is sending His disciples to bring the Gospel to the world. Some teachers use this verse to say that we should not pray for the world because they think only certain ones can be saved.

10. All I have is Yours, and all You have is mine. And My glory is shown through these men.

I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. Philippians 1:20

11. Now I am coming to You. I will not stay in the world now. But these men are still in the world. Holy Father, keep them safe. Keep them safe by the power of Your name (the name You gave Me), so that they will be one, the same as You and I are one.

Jesus wants us to be known by His name. If we are known by His name and the world watches us fighting with each other then we are working against the prayers of Jesus!

12. While I was with them, I kept them safe. I kept them safe by the power of Your name—the name You gave Me. I protected them. And only one of them, the one who is going to destruction , was lost. He was lost so that what was said in the Psalms would happen.

Jesus will not be with them on the earth so He is asking the father to protect them. Judas is called by the same name as the anti-Christ; he is called the son of destruction. Judas is not the antichrist but he shows us the spirit of the antichrist. Psalm 41:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:3

13. “I am coming to You now. But I pray these things while I am still in the world. I say these things so that these men can have My joy. I want them to have all of My joy.

If you were going to die for someone you really love so that they could escape death, you would have joy even as you are dying.

14 – 16

I have given them Your Words. And the world has hated them. The world hated these men, because they do not belong to the world, the same as I do not belong to the world.

I am not asking You to take them out of the world. But I am asking that You keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, the same as I do not belong to the world.

We are in the world but not of the world. We have to live in a way that obeys the world's laws and customs unless these things go against the Word of God.

I am not saying that you cannot be anywhere near evil people because then you would have to completely leave this world. 1 Corinthians 5:10

17. Make them set-apart for Your service through Your truth. Your Word is truth.

There are some churches that say they have reached a state of perfection where they never sin. The original word here means set-apart for God's purpose, not set apart so that we are not able to ever sin. We are set-apart because of the truth in the Word.

18. I have sent them into the world, the same as You sent Me into the world.

Jesus is now sending us to take His place. What a responsibility!

19. I am setting myself apart. I do this for them so that they can truly be set-apart for Your service.

“Sanctify Myself” cannot mean sinless perfection since Jesus had no sin!

20. “I pray for these men. But I am also praying for all people who will believe in Me because of the teaching of these men.

We are set-apart from the world so that we can rise above the world and reach the world! Jesus was praying for us who would be born someday !

21. Father, I pray that all people who believe in Me can be one. You are in Me and I am in You. I pray that these people can also be one in us, so that the world will believe that You sent Me.

Think about this crazy idea: would we talk to someone who is trapped in drugs or something else and tell them that they can be free if they believe that they have to be baptized in a certain way or join our church because it is better than some other church? We bring people to Christ -not to our favorite teachings!

22. I have given these people the glory that You gave Me. I gave them this glory so that they can be one, the same as You and I are one.

When we stand together this way it shows people the glory of God. The glory of God that these people will see is the glory of lives changed. Think of the beauty of people saved from chains of sin!

23. I will be in them and You will be in Me. So they will be completely one. Then the world will know that You sent Me. And the world will know that You loved these people the same as You loved Me, will and.

Jesus plan was that the church would work together -not against each other. When He says, “I will be in them” He is saying I will be there with you when you are sharing the Gospel. Does it get any better than this?

24. Father, I want these people that You have given Me to be with Me in every place I am. I want them to see My glory. This is the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the world was made.

We will see His glory, and someday we will sing together.

And they sang in a mighty chorus: Worthy is the Lamb who was killed, to receive power and riches, and wisdom and strength, and honor and glory and blessing.” Revelation 5:12


25. Father, You are the One who is good. The world does not know you , but I know You. And these people know that You sent me.

The church that is not winning souls is not a church. There is no use taking a light someplace else if you do not shine the light at home. We need to stop fighting and go fishing. More problems are solved by sharing the Gospel than this world dreams of!

26. I showed them what You are like. I will show them what You are like even more. Then they will have the same love that You have for Me. And I will live in them.”

God will put the same kind of love that He has inside of us. This way we can love people who are not easy to love.  Tell yourself, “I have the power to live the life that He has asked me to live.” Matthew 28:20