John 17:20-26 ESV
John 3:16 ESV
Forgiveness Series
The last section of the High Priestly Prayer Jesus spoke in the upper room is found in John 17:20-26, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
We recall from the beginning and middle of the prayer in John 17 that Jesus is interceding for us. The prayer is spoken to the Father and the Spirit. We know that because several times Jesus speaks of “we” as “one”.
In this section Jesus begins by saying He’s not only praying for His disciples who are in the upper room with Him. Jesus is now including in His prayer those who will believe in Him (Verse 20). He goes on to pray in verse 21 that those who WILL believe will also be one with Father, Spirit, and Son. Jesus points out that more than believing in God (Father, Spirit, Son) He asks that the world will know it is God the Father who sent God the Son.
Jesus wanted those who are to come (which includes us more than 2000 years later) to understand the importance of the perfect connection between Father, Son, and Spirit.
Jesus prayed that for a specific reason. In verse 23 notice that Jesus said when those who are yet to come know that Father, Son, and Spirit are one, THEY “may become perfectly one”.
In His prayer Jesus reiterated the importance of believers and future disciples knowing that it was Jesus who was sent by God into the world to proclaim God’s love.
Simply put, in His prayer (verse 23) Jesus prayed that you and I would know that Father, Son, and Spirit are perfectly one, that Jesus was sent into the world, and that was so all believers in that age and in the ages to come will know about God’s love.
Also In verse 23 notice that Jesus spoke of “the world” again. That was no accident. In His prayer Jesus made it clear that He was primarily speaking to believers but that doesn’t mean He has forgotten the world, or those who do not yet believe.
The point is made clear in the latter part of verse 23 when Jesus says, “so that the world may know”. First, believers know that Father, Son, and Spirit are perfectly one. Second, everyone in the world will know Jesus was sent for them. Third, Jesus was sent to proclaim the love of God.
On the surface it may seem redundant, but it is not. The prayer had layers…multiple layers. Jesus’ prayer was for the disciples in that age, Jesus’ prayer was for the disciples in the ages to come, and finally, Jesus’ prayer was for those in the world who do not yet believe.
We are reminded in John 3:16, Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
God is not willing that any should perish.
God loves everyone in the world and desires to share that love with ALL.
In verse 24 Jesus shifts focus to intercede ALSO for believers “whom you have given me” so they will “be with me where I am” so they will see His glory and the love that existed even before the foundation of the world was laid. Eternally, God’s love was, is, and is to come.
Through Jesus the Son, God wants to share His glory with the disciples, with all future disciples, and with the world.
Jesus concludes His all inclusive intercessory prayer in verses 25-26 by telling God the Father
He realizes even though he realizes the world doesn’t know God, HE knows God and there are those who know He was sent by God. Jesus knew His dear eleven disciples (all save Judas who had left the upper room) knew Him, and through Him they knew God the Father.
Jesus made it clear He would continue to make God the Father known to the disciples and to the world. Jesus did continue to make His connection to the Father known to His last breath on the Cross.
The disciples who heard this intercessory prayer (and John the disciple who later shared it in the Gospel of John) would not have known what Jesus would face after He left the upper room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane.
They did not know what was about to happen, but Jesus knew.
At this point all they knew is that on Thursday they were in the upper room with Jesus.
Jesus had a last supper with His 12 disciples.
They knew (John 13:26b-30) “when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.” Judas left for some unknown reason and from that point on Jesus was in the upper room with the remaining eleven disciples.
When Jesus prayed for the disciples, the future disciples, and for those who do not yet know about God’s great love for them Judas was not present.
Even though the other disciples were present they did not know Jesus would pray again in the garden but this time He would pray about what he would face the next day.
They did not know Jesus would be arrested.
They did not know they would be so afraid they would scatter.
They did not know that only one disciple would be with Jesus at the end.
All they knew at that point is that they had supper with Jesus. Judas left to go do something. Jesus prayed for disciples, other disciples, and for those who do not believe.
More than likely they thought Jesus’ prayer was thorough and covered a lot about how much God loves everyone.
The reason for the prayer was a mystery to them.
They certainly didn’t know the prayer was spoken for all they would do for God for the remainder of their lives. They didn’t know the prayer was for all believers who would come to know Jesus in the centuries to come. They did NOT know Jesus was praying for everyone in the world who WAS TO COME who needed to hear about the mystery and wonder of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit who loved the world.
I am reminded that sometimes when we do not know, it’s because God is protecting and preparing us for what’s ahead.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Tell God you love being a child of the Most High God.
Speak clearly to God about your love for Father, Son, and Spirit.
In God, Deborah
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