The Gospel of John: John 17.1-26

Read and meditate on John 17.1-3.
The glory John has been pointing to since chapter 1 is now about to be realized. Jesus has finished His work, or almost so, and in so doing, He brings glory to the Father, and shares in the Father’s glory. And He has earned the authority to give eternal life to all those God gives to Him.

                                          ¹And then
He spoke, and lifted up His eyes to heav’n,
and said, “O Father, now the hour has come
for You to glorify Your only Son,
that He may glorify You also. ²You
have given Him authority to do
Your will, in giving life eternal to
all those whom You have chosen, and whom You
have given to the Son. ³And this is life
eternal, that they may know You, and Christ,
Whom You have sent.”

- John 16.16-18

Reflect
1.  Most of the time, when we pray, we close our eyes and look down. Jesus opened His eyes and looked up. Why? Why didn’t He bow His head and close His eyes? Why do we? Complete this prayer: Father, I want to see You when I pray, if only with the eye of faith, so…

2.  Jesus would glorify God as God glorified Him. How would God glorify Jesus? How would that glorify the Father? The glory of God was foremost on Jesus’ mind as His hour of betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion draws near. What does this suggest for us? You have called me to Your Kingdom and glory, Father, and every day I…

3.  Because of His work, and the glory of God realized in His work, the Father gave authority to Jesus over all flesh, so that He might give eternal life to some. To whom does Jesus give eternal life? Who are they (cf. Eph. 1.4)? Jesus gives eternal life, but it must be received. How do people receive eternal life? Thank You, Father, for giving me to Jesus, and in Him, for giving me…

4.  How is Jesus using the word know in verse 3? What does it mean to know God and to know Jesus Christ? How can someone know that he knows them? How does God know? I know Whom I have believed, Lord Jesus, and I am persuaded that…

5.  Eternal life is not merely going to heaven when you die. Eternal life is not merely having your sins forgiven. Each of these is involved in eternal life, but we should not think of eternal life any way other than as Jesus did. Meditate on 2 Peter 3.18. Is it possible to grow in eternal life? Explain. How would you counsel a new believer to grow in knowing God and Christ? Bring together into one the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Again he shows us that he willingly comes to the cross. For how could someone who prayed that this might happen be unwilling, calling what would happen ‘glory’ not only for himself the crucified but also for the Father? This was indeed the case, since not only the Son but also the Father too was glorified. For before the crucifixion, not even the Jews knew him. ‘Israel,’ it says, ‘has not known me. But after the crucifixion, the whole world flocked to him. Then he also speaks of how the glory would take place and how [the Father] will glorify him.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

Jesus gives eternal life to all who believe in Him, all whom the Father has given Him from before the foundation of the world. The faith to believe is a gift from God and a work of His Spirit, which leads us into a true and holy relationship with the Deity. To know God and Jesus Christ is to sustain an intimacy of love, trust, and obedience which grows continually. How would you explain what it means to have eternal life to an unbelieving friend?

Closing Prayer
You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard.
My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;
I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.
Let your heart live forever!
All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.
For the kingdom is the LORD’s,
And He rules over the nations.

Psalm 22.23-28

Psalm 22.23-28 (Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King)
All you who fear the Lord, now praise His holy Name!
You children of His glorious Word, declare His fame!
We stand in awe of our eternal God, and on His mercy call.

For He has not despised the anguish of our King,
Nor from Him hid His eyes, Who knew such suffering.
Let praise arise from all who love and serve the Ruler of the skies!

The suff’ring King shall eat and praise with us the Lord.
Forever we His praise repeat and trust His Word.
Praise God above, all you who keep His vows and who His mercies love!

All nations shall repent and hasten to the Lord;
All those to whom His truth is sent shall praise His Word.
The Lord is King!  His sovereign rule on high now we His people sing!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.