The glory of the Son

May 24, 2021

17:1-26 What Jesus wants for us

Read John 17:1-5

This prayer is the climax of all that Jesus said to his disciples that night. As he arrived at the point of his death, he needed to consecrate himself again for that work. At the same time, his prayer makes clear what Jesus most wants for all his followers. Though the whole prayer is a unity, it can be divided into three parts, in which Jesus prays for himself (17:1-5), for his disciples (17:6-19), and for all who will become believers (17:20-26).

Throughout the gospel, Jesus has been moving towards the cross and now “the time has come” for him to die (1; 12:23; 13:1). For Jesus, the cross would prove to be the place of greatest glory, both for him and for the Father (13:31). Jesus was entitled to that glory, for God had given him authority over all people in order for him to give eternal life to those who believe i.e. to those whom God has given to him (2; 3:35-36; 10:28-29). What is eternal life? It is “to know the only true God and Jesus Christ” (3). In other words, it’s the life we have through being in relationship with the eternal God. This life will last for ever, but the primary aspect is its quality, not its duration. It is “life to the full” (10:10) which begins even now through faith in Jesus (5:24).

By the whole of his work on earth Jesus had brought glory to the Father (4). This includes his work on the cross, his supreme glorification (5). In taking the nature of a human servant, he had to lay aside the glory which had always been his (1:1-3). But now through his exaltation on the cross, followed by his resurrection, that glory would be restored to him forever, “to the glory of God the Father” (Phil.2:9-11).