The Weekly Show: Episode 60 - John 17

Join Tim and John as they talk about life and study John Chapter 17 Verses 1-26

Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning

Transition Song: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/

Introduction to John 17:1–26

This is holy ground.

John 17 gives us something no other Gospel does—a full, intimate look into the actual prayer Jesus prayed the night before the cross. Often called the High Priestly Prayer, this chapter isn’t just a closing moment—it’s the beating heart of Jesus' mission, voiced aloud.

He prays for three things:

1. For Himself—that the Father would glorify Him through the cross.
2. For His disciples—that they would be protected, sanctified, and unified as they’re sent into the world.
3. For us—those who would believe through their message.

Let that sink in: You are in this prayer. Jesus looked ahead—beyond the cross, beyond the resurrection—and saw every person who would come to know Him. He prayed for your faith. Your unity. Your closeness to Him and to the Father.

This isn’t just a moment of reflection; it’s a moment of revelation. We’re listening in on God the Son speaking to God the Father, with nothing hidden, nothing withheld. Every word is soaked in love, purpose, and the longing for us to share in the glory of God.

As we enter John 17, pause and prepare your heart. This is more than theology—it’s worship. This is more than doctrine—it’s Jesus’ deepest desire for you.

Key Theme One: “Glorify Your Son” (vv. 1–5)

Jesus begins His prayer with eyes lifted to heaven—not downcast in defeat, but fixed on His Father in confidence.

• “The hour has come.” This is the moment everything has been leading to. The cross is not a detour in Jesus’ mission—it’s the destination. In it, the Son will be glorified, and through it, the Father will be glorified.
• Glory through Obedience. Jesus isn't asking for rescue; He’s asking for glory through sacrifice. The glory of Jesus isn’t only in His power to perform miracles—but in His humility to die for sinners.
• Eternal Life Defined. Jesus gives us a clear, simple definition of eternal life: “That they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Eternal life isn’t just endless time—it’s a relationship. It starts now, with knowing the Father and the Son.
• Mission Accomplished. “I glorified You on earth… I have accomplished the work You gave Me to do.” Even before the cross, Jesus sees His obedience as complete. He’s lived in perfect unity with the Father—everything He did pointed back to God’s glory.
• A Return to Divine Glory. Jesus now asks to return to the glory He had before the world existed—a reminder of His divine nature. This prayer is not the cry of a mere prophet or teacher. It’s the Son of God preparing to return to His rightful place—having finished the work of redemption.

Reflection: In these first five verses, we see Jesus’ heart: He longs for glory—not for fame or comfort—but that the Father would be known and loved through His obedience. That same heart should live in us: a desire to glorify God in every moment, even the painful ones.

Key Theme Two: Jesus Prays for His Disciples 1. Identity and Origin of the Disciples (vv. 6–8)

"I have revealed You to those You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me..."

• Chosen by the Father: Jesus frames the disciples not as His personal followers but as a gift entrusted to Him by the Father. This points to divine sovereignty in salvation—God chose and gave them to the Son.
• Revelation and Response: Jesus has “manifested” the Father’s name—meaning He revealed the true nature and character of God. The disciples received this revelation with faith (v. 8), albeit imperfectly.
• Implication for Today: Discipleship begins with divine initiative. Evangelism and Christian formation are not human projects but divine responses to God’s calling and revealing work.

2. Jesus’ Specific Intercession for His Own (vv. 9–10)

"I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me..."

• Focused Prayer: Jesus prays specifically for His disciples—not for the world at large in this moment, but for those who carry forward His mission. This doesn't mean the world is excluded from His love