John 17

John 17:6-10

This chapter is a prayer, the departing prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ, Obserus, 1. The circumstance of the prayer, ver. 1. 2. The prayer itself. (1.) He prays for himself, ver. 1—2. (2.) He prays for those that are his. And there sin, (1.) The general place with which he introduced his petition for them, ver. 6—10. (2.) The particular petition he puts up for them, 1. That they might be kept, ver. 11—16. 2. That they might be glorified, ver. 17—19. 3. That they might be united, ver. 11, and ver. 20—23. 4. That they might be glorified, ver. 24—26.

1. THESE words spake Jesus; and lift up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also might glorify thee. 2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3. And this is life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. 4. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5. And now, O Father, glorify thou with me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

2. 1—2. Our Lord having finished his farewell discourse, closes it with a prayer; for those whom we preach to, we should pray for. He here recommends his redeemed to the rest and keeping of the Father of mercies, and the his/her effects of it we continue to reap to this hour, and so shall all his church to the end of time.

3. He addresses his prayer to the Father, whom, as mediator and head of his church, he regarded as his superior, and in whole love he herein expresses his confidence. He approaches him as a son with reverence and godly fear, lifting up his eyes to heaven, the place where he peculiarly manifests his transcendent glory. Note, (1.) The object of prayer is God only; and when we approach him, it must be as to our reconciled God and Father in Jesus Christ. (2.) Christ lifted up his eyes to heaven to sanctify this gesture to us, and to justify it against the ridicule of scuffers. (3.) None can possibly belong to Christ who do not show, in a course of habitual and constant prayer, their dependence upon the Father of Mercies.

4. He prays for himself; that he may be glorified, and enabled, in the completion of the work he had undertaken, most eminently to exalt his Father’s glory. Father, the hour is now, fixed in the eternal counsels for his death; and though it approached with horrors unspeakable, he welcomed its arrival, because he saw that the salvation of his people would be the happy fruit thereof: glorify thy Son; as man and Mediator, he looked for support under his sufferings, that some beams of glory might gild that gloomy scene; that triumphant over death and hell, he might rise on the third day, ascend into heaven, and fit on the throne prepared for him; where angels, principalities, and powers, should be made subject unto him: and from thence he should tend down his spirit effectually, to establish his kingdom in the earth, and his judgments upon the Jewish people, destroying their city and nation; that thy Son also might glorify thee, by suffering in the stead of sinners, and thereby bringing the highest glory to all the divine perfections; as also by the discharge of his mediatorial office when exalted to the throne of glory, by the mission of his spirit, and the ministry of his servants, his gospel should be spread abroad, and God’s name made great among the heathen. Note, God’s glory should always be the great end we propose, in all our prayers and services.

5. He pleads the covenant subsisting between them, and the power with which, in consequence thereof, he was involved, as the argument to enforce his request. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him; all the concerns of fallen man were put into the Redeemer’s hand; and in these peculiar remnants, who were to be the travel of his soul, was God peculiarly to be glorified. Note, (1.) Man in his fallen state is become flesh and not spirit, brutish in his appetites, passions, and pursuits. (2.) Christ hath all human affairs under his mediatorial government, and as such is not only a King of saints, but a King of kings, and Lord of lords. He orders all the temporal affairs of men as shall be most subservient to the salvation of his elect, and shall at last be the judge of quick and dead. (3.) Eternal life

is the gift of Jesus Christ; he hath purchased for his people the title to it; and hath, in virtue of his obedience unto death, a right to believe this inestimable privilege on the many foes whom he will bring unto glory. May I be of that blessed number!

4. He explains wherein this eternal life consists, and what is the way to it. This is life eternal, the earnest, foresatte, and assurance of it, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent; not a speculative knowledge merely, but such as engages fiducial confidence in God, as the only worthy object of our trust and worship, in opposition to all idols; and such a full persuasion of the divine mission of Jesus, as leads us to him as the only Mediator between God and Man, and satisfies the soul in the clear views of his fulness and all-sufficiency to save to the esteem all who come to God by him.

5. He pleads what he had done to glorify God upon earth, as the reason and ground of his prayer and confidence, that the Father would glorify him with himself in heaven. I have glorified thee upon earth, in my doctrines, miracles, and life; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do; of perfect sinners obedience to death, even the death of the cross, for the redemption of sinners. He was now on the very point of concluding his undertaking, and being fully purposed to go through with it, he speaks of it as already accomplished. And now, O Father, glorify thee on with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Having finished his mediatorial work, he became intitled to the promised reward, and considerably expels to be exalted to the mediatorial throne; and to return to heaven again, there to make a display of his own eternal and uncreated glory, which, during his humiliation, he suffered to be obliterated by the vali of flesh. Note, (1.) The Redeemer’s work is a finished work; he hath left nothing for us to do; pardon, comfort, grace, glory, are effectually purchased, and his free gift to the miserable and desperate. (2.) They who by grace, through faith, are interested in this eternal redemption, having the same mind which was in Christ Jesus, desire to live only to glorify God upon earth.

6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me, are of thee. 8. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine. 10. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them.

Having offered up his prayer for himself, he proceeds to enlarge on the behalf of his apostles in particular, and the disciples in general, who had heard and believed his word. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world; but particularly revealed to them thy glorious perfections, and the eternal designs of grace displayed in my gospel, forasmuch as they were given to me in a distinguishing way from the rest of mankind: thine they were, not only by creation as men, but by election, as choirless vessels; and thou gavest them me, as the fruit of my travail, to be a peculiar people to me, favoured with my love, and under my especial care; and they have kept thy word, embracing faithfully the doctrines which I have delivered unto them, publically professing, and zealously propagating the gospel of the kingdom. Now, of late their minds have been more clearly enlightened, and they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me, are of thee; that what I have taught them hath the best of heaven upon it, and that I have acted in all things in perfect conformity as Mediator to the commission I have received. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; all the doctrines of gospel-grace relative to men’s everlasting peace; how pardon, peace, righteousness, and salvation may be attained by me, and they have received them, in the light and love of them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me, as the promised and true Messiah, invested with divine authority to seek and save lost souls, and to accomplish the redemption of his people. I pray for them, that they may be preserved and kept, and the begun work perfected in them; I pray not for the world in general, but for them which thou hast given me; that remnant, according to the election of grace, for whose sake particularly I became incarnate; for they are thine by eternal designation, and now by their own voluntary choice and surrender. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; our interests are inseparably the same, as we are one in nature, essence, and operation, and the redeemed are alike indebted to both for all the blessings of the covenant of grace; and I am glorified in them, in their complete redemption; and by their faith, love, worship, and obedience here below, as I shall be the object of their eternal praises in glory everlasting. From whence

we learn, (1.) That the redemption, which is by Christ Jesus, extends not universally to every particular of mankind, but is confined to those whom the Father hath given him out of the world. (2.) Those for whom Christ doth not pray are called the world, as all their joys, deliens, parifuits, and aims, come in worldly things. They live after the fashion of the world, and will be condemned with the world. (3.) Christ’s undertaking was not uncertain respecting its success; he knew that those whom the Father had given him would come to him; and they can never perish whose interests are lodged in his hands. (4.) Keeping Christ’s word, holding fast his doctrine, and advening it by a good conversation, is the substantial evidence of our belonging to him. (5.) The study and delight of every redeemed soul is to exalt the name of Jesus, and to ascribe entirely to him the glory of that rich, full, and free salvation, of which he hath made them partakers.

11. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, ’that they may be one,’ as we are. 12. While I was with them in the world, ‘I kept them in thy name; those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost,’ but the son of perdition: ’that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13. And now come to thee, and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15. I pray not that thou shoudest take them out of the world, but that thou shoudest keep them from the evil. 16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:11-16

Our Lord proceeds in his prayer for his dear disciples, whom he was going to leave, and therefore, as man and mediator, commends them to his Father’s care and keeping. And now I am no more in the world, ready to depart, and return to my radiant throne in glory; but these are in the world, left to conflict a while with temptations, conruptions, afflictions, persecutions; and I am going from them, so that they will be deprived of the comfort of my bodily pretence, when I come to thee. Holy Father, essentially holy in thyself, and the Author and Source of all holiness to thy creatures; keep, through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me; by thy almighty power, and for thy own glory, preserve them from sinking under their trials; strengthen them against their spiritual foes, Satan, the world, and for; keep them by thy grace, till thou shalt bring them to thy glory; that they may be one as we are, united in affection and labour, and having the same interests and designs. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name from apostasy, according to the commission with which I was notified, and by the influences of thy grace: those that thou gavest me to be my apostles, I have kept in the faith and hope of the gospel, unmoved; and now of them is lost, and left to perish, for the few of perdition, that traitor Judas, who was from the beginning a child of the devil; that the scripture might be fulfilled, Psalms 23, q. cix. 8. And now come I to thee, having finished my work, and returning to my glorious rest: and those things I speak in the world, and after these requests on their behalf, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves, happy in the present experience of my love; in the quickening, guiding, and comforting influences of my Spirit; and in the hope inspired by the great and precious promises that are in me; so that their joys on earth may increase, and be growing up to perfection in heaven. I have given them thy word, have put them in truth with thy gospel, and furnished them with gifts to publish it through the world; and, because they have embraced the truth, and boldly confessed it, the world hath hated them, unable to bear the reproofs of their preaching and practice; because they are not of the world, in their principles, tempers, and conduct, opposite to the carnal minds and conversation of natural and sensual men, who mind earthly things; as I am not of the world; and my example and doctrine have they faithfully observed. I pray not that thou shoudest take them out of the world, deliver them at once from all the power of their enemies, and put an immediate period to all their trials and troubles; but that thou shoudest keep them from the evil, supporting them under all their sufferings, preserving them from falling into sin, and briefing the wicked one, Satan, under their feet; thus causing them to triumph over all opposition. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world; therefore they will be love through it, as I have been: and, as thou hast supported me, let them experience the like protection, and share thy care and love. Now, (1.) The prospect of going to be with God in glory cannot but make it pleasing to quit a world of wretchedness: the hour of our dismissal will be the beginning of our endless felicity. (2.) It is a pleasing, comforting confederation, that our stability depends not upon ourselves, but is secured by the divine grace and faithfulness: they must need to be safe kept, whom

God keeps. (3.) The world is the Christian’s grand enemy; and the victory that overcrowds it is our death; and this is the gift of God. (4.) Christ’s people have work to do for him in the world; and, however desirable it is to be with him, they must not be in halle to go before his time; but patiently take up their cros, fight the good fight, and hope unto the end. (5.) No man’s protection, privilege, gifts, or apparent attainments, where the heart is not right with God, will stand him in any head: when the hour of trial comes, he will be proved, like Judas, a foe of perdition. (6.) The Lord will have his disciples walk joyfully, not unmormally, before him; and he hath for this end left us the exceeding great and precious promises, and ever lives to make intercession for us. (7.) The faithful servants of Jesus, who keep his word, and refute to be conformed to the ways and manners of this wicked world, may expect to be hated by those, against whom their words and works cannot but testify that their deeds are evil.

17. 4 Sanctify them through thy truth: ‘Thy word is truth. 18.’ As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be + sanctified through the truth.

John 17:17-19

Our Lord had before prayed for his disciples preservation; here he prays for their sanctification.

Sanctify them through thy truth; conforcate them for their sacred office, and let them be under the powerful influences of thy word and Spirit, that in their own souls they may experience increasing purity, and be enabled for the propagation of the truth of the gospel through the world: thy word is truth, infallibly certain in itself, and the great means of purifying the heart. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so send I them, with the same gospel, and on the same errand, to advance thy glory, and promote the salvation of immortal souls. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, am now ready to offer up myself a sacrifice, and to enter on my mediatorial office in glory, as their great High-privist, to be their eternal Advocate; that they also, in virtue of my intercession for them, and by the millions of the Holy Ghost into their hearts, might be sanctified through thy truth, enabled for the practice of all true godisnefs, and, possessed of the knowledge of the glorious gospel, may be strengthened and made successful in propagating the glad tidings to the ends of the earth. Now, (1.) All Christ’s people are made partakers of true holiness: he saves none whom he does not sanctify. (2.) What was his prayer for us, must be ours daily for ourselves, that God would carry on the blessed work of his grace upon our hearts, and perfect that which he hath begun. (3.) The word of God is the great means of our sanctification, and by it, thou the quickening influences of the Holy Ghost, are we enabled to grow up into him in all things who is our head, even Christ. (4.) The mindless of Jesus are his peculiar concern, and they who are truly his, prove it by the practical influence his word hath on their own hearts, and the zeal with which they preach the truth to others. (5.) They who go into the ministry under a divine mission and call, may confidently expect the divine assistance and blessing. (6.) All that Christ did and suffered was for our benefit and advantage; and as the merit is transferred to us, if we are by faith united to him, we may confidently expect the reward, in present grace and future glory.

20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word: 21. That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee: that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them: that they may be one, even as we are one. 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

John 17:20-23

Christ’s prayer terminates not merely in requests for his disciples of that day, but includes all his redeemed to the latest ages.

Neither pray I for these alone, my first ministers and apostles, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word, in all succeeding generations; that they all may be one in faith and love, by the preaching of the gospel collected together, and united in one body under the same living head; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us, animated by the same spirit; one in judgment, disposition, designs, desires, and admitted into the nearest fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me, beholding the powerful effects of my grace upon them: and the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them; either the gospel, with all its inestimable blessings; or the grace and glory which he, as the great covenants-head of his people, hath obtained in order to be flown upon them; that they may be one, even as we are one, in strictest and most inseparable union with us and with each

each other through the same Spirit: I in them, as the head of vital influence to them; and thus to me, by thy Spirit given without measure unto me; that they may be made perfect in me, attaining to the highest perfection of which their nature is capable in eternal glory; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, convinced by the present power of thy grace, displayed in their concord, unity, and mutual love; or beyond doubt assured of my divine character, when they shall be glorified together with me. And it shall then appear that thou hast loved them, as thou hast loved me, when they are made kings and priests, and shall reign with us for ever and ever. Note, (1.) The ministry of the word is the great instrument Christ is pleased to make use of, in order to be given faith in the souls of his redeemed people; and to me many as he will call, and for whom he prays, it will be certainly effectual. (2.) All true Christians are one in Christ Jesus: he is their living head: they are by faith and love united to him, and joined in one spirit to each other; and what is now begun in grace shall be shortly compleated in glory. (3.) They who are one with Christ, sprinkled with his blood, coached with his righteousness, and joined to him in one spirit, are complete in him, and as such cannot but be the objects of the same love as God the Father shewed to him the Mediator. (4.) They who depose, inside, and ridicule the followers of Jesus, will shortly be convinced, to their conclusion, how highly they are, and shall be to eternity, the objects of his love.