John 17

John 16-17

Devotion by JJ Fletcher (Minnesota)

What is eternal life? According to Jesus in John 17:3, it is “knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ”.

John 17 is often referred to as “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer”. Here we see Jesus praying for the deliverance of his disciples (that they remain in God’s name) and for them to have unity, the same kind of unity that Jesus has with God, his Father.

John 10:29 quotes Jesus saying, “I and the Father are one”, and I see John 17 as giving that some context. God and Jesus are not one person, they are not one entity, they are not members of a godhead. They are one in purpose. They are united through the will of God and Jesus’ obedience to that will. There is clear subservience to God in Jesus’ words here, but God has also elevated and glorified him. They have a special relationship as we see through Jesus’ prayer life and language.

Jesus wants his disciples to have that same kind of unity in purpose and in relationship. Jesus also points out that this is not just for the inner circle of his disciples; this unity and deliverance that Jesus is praying for extends to us. All those who came to faith because of the testimony of the Apostles.

There is also an exclusivity claim here. Eternal life is dependent on knowing the true God and his Messiah, Jesus. There are not many paths that lead to God, only one.

Jesus emphasizes the importance of truth in 17:17-19. As Jesus’ father is the only true God, Jesus recognizes him as the source of truth. He says, “Your word is truth.” Jesus has been the truth bearer throughout the course of his earthly ministry, but soon, his disciples will be bearing that mantle of truth bearers. Jesus is sending them out into the world, just as God sent him into the world. This ties into the Helper that we looked at yesterday.

The Spirit of Truth, the power of God, God’s operational presence, the finger of God. There are a few ways that the spirit is described or defined. But it comes alongside, and that is in Jesus’ mind as he prays for the well-being of his friends and followers. God keep them safe, not from man, but from falling away.

Reflection Questions:

1. What jumps out at you from today’s reading? Is there anything here that has been particularly impactful in your faith?

2. How should the unity that God and Jesus have impact the unity that we have as believers? If our oneness is supposed to be like theirs, how do we navigate disagreements?

3. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. I think we read that recently. How does the truth of knowing who God and Jesus are and having the word of truth from God motivate you? Do you often consider the importance of truth in this age of lies?

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Become One in Purpose

OLD TESTAMENT: Zechariah 7-8
POETRY: Psalm 145
NEW TESTAMENT: John 17:20-26

Zechariah 8:14-17(NLT) For this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: I was determined to punish you when your ancestors angered me, and I did not change my mind, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. ¹⁵ But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid. ¹⁶ But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. ¹⁷ Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the LORD.”

Psalms 145:3-7(NLT)
³ Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.
⁴ Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
⁵ I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
⁶ Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
⁷ Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

John 17:20-26(NLT) I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. ²⁴ “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ²⁶ And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Father God we pray that we will be one in purpose with your Son just as he is one in purpose with You. We are so in awe of your great love that you have loved us with. Give us the knowledge and wisdom to tell your Word to the world and to help to reach those You have chosen. We declare your faithfulness to our children, our friends and to all those with whom we have the opportunity to share. In Jesus’ wonderful name we pray this day.

Our reading this day takes us through a strong admonition from God in Zechariah to walk in God’s truth with each other. We need to deal honestly and truthfully with all, using the measure of truth that God has given us to judge and deal with all. Our speaking the truth should bring peace to each situation. This is many times very difficult to achieve. Most people will see as a good verdict one that only gives them what they want. God calls us to make peace which is to speak the truth – but in the love which we see as the standard for our conduct and thinking from our reading in John 17. The Christ in us is our strength to speak the words which will give grace to the hearers and bring resolution to situations where we find ourselves. Our witness is not to prove that we are right but to show the grace and love of God to people. The goodness of God brings people to repentance and salvation. Make our message one that is positive and uplifting giving grace to the hearers.

Jesus Christ is one with the Father?? What does this mean?? Some trinitarians like to use these verses to demonstrate that Jesus is God the Son. But then it says that he desires that we would be one with them also. Does this make us part of the godhead? We must read the Word of God as it is written. The purpose of asking for us to become one with Christ and one with God is that we must become one in purpose with them. God is the originator of salvation; Jesus Christ is the way that God brings salvation to us. We are the way that others will hear and believe to come to righteousness also. This is what it means to be one in purpose. Other people are going to see Christ through our lives and speech. When we see Christ, then we come to a larger understanding of who our Father God is. God has revealed Himself through His Word but especially through the life of Christ. It is God who is in Christ who is in you today. This should give us confidence and power in this world to do good, especially to reconcile people back to the Heavenly Father.

2 Corinthians 5:19-20(NLT) For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. ²⁰ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

Have a great day walking and talking with your Father and His Son. Hear the words of knowledge and wisdom He speaks in your ears to bring His message of hope alive for you and all you meet. True peace is to bring back together that which is apart.

2 Timothy 1:9-10(NLT) For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. ¹⁰ And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.

-Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

How do we grow in our spiritual relationship with the Father and His Son?

Who can you minister peace to today?

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Preparing with Prayer

*Theme Week – Jesus: John 17

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 33 & 34

Psalms Reading: Psalm 93

This prayer. Oh if only we all prayed like this.

Jesus has been speaking with his disciples, trying to impart some final wisdom and direction before his death, leaving them with words of comfort for the trying days ahead that they can’t even comprehend yet. And then he follows that by praying with them and over them.

He starts off his prayer by glorifying God and asking that God be glorified through him. He’s requesting that everything he’s about to say and do be done for God’s glory, for his plan that he had from the very beginning of the world. From the very start of our existence God planned for his son to save us all. And Christ is recognizing that here, acknowledging that God’s plan and God’s glory come first.

Then he prays over his disciples, his closest of friends and followers. He has been pouring into them all that God has given him, and he’s praying that it all takes root, that his disciples take the message of salvation and spread it everywhere. He’s praying out his hopes for them, his love for them, his joy in them. How beautiful to see his love and passion for the people God has placed into his care and for his purpose. He prays not that they have it easy, not that they will live perfect lives, but that God will protect them so that they can do his good and perfect will. He prays they are in the world but protected, different from society and so like Christ.

And then, my favorite part. He prays for us! Jesus Christ prayed for each of us. He prayed for all believers, all those that would hear the message of salvation. He prayed that we, as believers, would be unified.

This is beautiful and also a little disheartening when I read it. Because I see how little we are unified sometimes. I see how we lose focus. Jesus spent this entire prayer to God focused on God’s plan and God’s glory. He wanted us to be unified in that. But how unified are we? Churches and Christians are so frequently distracted by the little arguments, the differences of opinions, that we lose sight of what Jesus’s greatest hope for us was. He wanted us to be unified in our faith, actively working to show God to others.

Personal confession time. I have some major personal issues with some people in my church. Some bitterness. Some anger. Some hurt. And I asked myself a few months ago how I was supposed to keep dealing with these people over and over again if all they were going to do was insult me and hurt me? And one Sunday morning, before I was supposed to be leading others before God in worship and adoration, I asked God. “How do I do this? I’m so tired of coming into church Sunday after Sunday and feeling like this. What should I do?” And I had the very clear image of Jesus smiling and welcoming Judas into his disciples. He walked and talked and worshiped and interacted with that man for months. And I thought, “Did he know? He knew he would be betrayed, but had God revealed to him who it would be even from first meeting? And if he knew, how did he do it!?”

But if Jesus could love Judas and interact with him on a near-daily basis, then I could love this person who angers and hurts me so.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m still bitter, probably more often than I should be. But it’s something I’m dealing with and learning to set aside. Usually. It’s going to take more prayer I think. But maybe you have something in your life, or someone, that is keeping you from being unified with your fellow believers as well.

Take some time today and prepare yourself in prayer with me. Ask yourself:

What kind of prayer life do I have? Do I have a healthy practice of placing everything before God?

Am I putting God’s plan first in my prayers and in my actions?

How can I better pray for those around me? For the message of salvation to be spread through me?

Am I so focused on the tiny disagreements that I have with other believers that I lose sight of how I should be working alongside them?

What should be my specific prayer to God that would help unite me in his great purpose with other members of our church body?

My prayer for you today is that you spend time deep in prayer with God. Be specific. Analyze your heart and align your plans with God’s plan so that you can better show God’s love and glory to others. Pray that God’s plan be first. Pray over your family and friends that they show his glory and put God’s plan first. And pray over other believers, that they all be unified in spreading the gospel message of salvation to all nations.

Jenn Haynes

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Knowing the Only True God and Knowing the One He Sent

Theme week – 1 God, 1 Messiah: John 17

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 7 & 8

Psalms Reading: Psalm 80

In John 17 Jesus prayed a lengthy prayer (his longest in the Bible), for the disciples who were with him, and for those who would trust in him down through the years. This took place just before the group left for the garden where Jesus was arrested, leading to his death. Knowing what was coming Jesus had tried to comfort his friends. He told them: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33; NASB). That was the attitude he had when he prayed – he had overcome the world. He was about to die, but not because he was defeated. What was coming would be painful, but ultimately it would bring glory to God and to His son. And what would take place would also benefit Jesus’ friends.

Over the centuries many people have examined these events with the wrong expectations, trying to piece together a story where Jesus is putting on a play or demonstrating his power, not one where he is incredibly brave and kind and suffers because that is what is needed. The goal was to bring people eternal life, and as Jesus said in verse 3 that eternal life came through knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom God sent. Or, to break that out, they were to know the Lord – meaning something like “I am that I am”, or in effect, “the self-existent one”. They were also to know Christ, that is from the Greek for Messiah, both words relaying the idea “anointed one”, which says Jesus was “one granted authority”. God gave Jesus the power and the words and love which allowed the plan to work. It is clear from the language in the prayer that the power and the words and the love are meant to go to those who trust in both God and Jesus.

Some of what Jesus said has been selectively picked apart and treated as evidence for Jesus leading a life that was ‘beyond human’ in a way that would deny God’s intentions. For example, Jesus declares that he wants the Father to glorify him, together with God, with glory that he had with Him before the world was (v. 5). Some take that to mean Jesus existed in some form before the world, to possess that glory then. But God is capable of giving glory to the son He intends to have, even before that son is born. This is the God who “sees the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). John 17:24 also sounds more like this description of the situation, and there are other examples, such as the parable in Matthew 25 which refers to inheriting “the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (v. 34). And it is not as though the glory Jesus has is something beyond what humans may possess, for Jesus gives that glory to those who love him (v. 22). He does so with the intention for believers to be one in the same way that he and the Father are one (v. 22, this is another phrase that people have sometimes thought of as somehow ‘beyond human’ but really it involves unity of purpose and mutual care, not a distinction about physical nature or what-have-you).

We should recall that we are among the disciples Jesus was praying for. We are given great blessings and great purpose by a great man. Jesus faced everything and succeeded, and he did so for you and for me, as well as for John or Peter or James. He may not have known each of us then, but he was conscious of the choice he was making for us. And he knows us now, deeply, and he cares about our needs. And like his Father, Jesus does not desire anything bad for us.

Lord, thank you that you did not leave us without a savior, and thank you that you make it so clear what is necessary for us. Thank you for creating a family of believers for us to be part of. Please help each of us to be healthily a part of it. Please allow us to find people in the body whom we can be close together with in the unity we were meant to have. Lord, let us not be too ashamed to admit if we don’t think we have what we need in our connections to each other. Jesus said that it is in our unity that we will be a witness to the world, so help us be the witness you desire even if it requires some pain and openness along the way. In his name, Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Questions:

Does it seem like John 17:3, with the rest of the chapter, may be repeating the theme of the two great commandments, that you must love the Lord your God with your whole heart but then you are also to love your neighbors with whom you are meant to be united?
John’s Gospel picks up a lot of what Jesus had to say about “the world”, describing the negative routines of this life and its ways under that title. Jesus said that he wasn’t of “the world” and that those who followed him were not of “the world” either, with the result that “the world” hated them. Have you ever been able to feel like “the world” hates you for the “right” reasons of your faith? Have you ever found yourself feeling so comfortable with “the world” that you wondered if you were not living properly with God?
Jesus prayed for the future of the believers, asking God to grant them unity. What actions would you want to take for the unity of the church for the next generation?
Keeping in mind that eternal life comes from knowing God and Jesus (John 17:3)- from your Bible reading thus far this year, what do you think God wants us to know about Him, and what does God want us to know about Jesus the son He sent? And how important is it?

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Bring God Glory

April 14

Jesus spent most of his life hidden. From his first 30 years of life, only three events are recorded in the Gospels: he was born, strangers brought him presents, and he got lost on a road trip. Even during his few years of public ministry, he ordered his disciples to keep his identity a secret. After healing lepers and giving sight to the blind, he instructed those who witnessed such miracles not to tell anyone.

It’s clear that Jesus wasn’t about glory—not his own glory, anyways. He kept his head down and sought to fulfill his appointed mission. He recruited twelve loyal friends, challenged tradition, performed miracles, preached the Kingdom, and submitted himself to death on the cross.

In the final moments before his arrest, he prays—for himself, for his disciples, and for us. One of his first remarks is this:

“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4).

What a beautiful reminder for us of how we should live each day. Have you carried out the work God has for you today? Have you given God the glory? In the final moments of my life, I hope I can say that I’ve brought God glory on earth by finishing the work He gave me to do. I hope the same for you, too.

Jesus eventually got his glory. In fact, that same night he prayed for his glory to finally be revealed. Now, he’s seated in his throne at the right hand of God.

God intends for us to follow the same path as Jesus: to live quietly and to be rewarded greatly. In the meantime, let’s keep our heads down, working, and our hands lifted up, praising God. Let’s soldier on, continuing the cause of Christ.

Not to us, LORD, not to us

but to your name be the glory,

Because of your love and faithfulness

(Psalm 115:1).

-Mackenzie McClain

Discussion Questions:

What is the work God has given you to do?
We live in a culture that emphasizes building your own name, fame, and following. How is that message contradictory to how God wants us to live?
What does it mean to give God glory?

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The War We Are In and the Games We Play.

John 17

It’s important to note that Christ cared about those who followed him. He called his disciples little children, he spoke with love and care to the women who supported his ministry. (See, for example, John 20:11-18.) In John 17, we get to see Jesus pray for himself, his disciples who followed him then, and for us, the disciples who follow him now.

I want to focus on some things he says early on in this prayer.

In the first part of the prayer we are greeted by a strange idea of the Son being glorified and how he had glory “before the world was”(NASB, KJV) or “before the world began”(NIV, NLT) or “before the world existed” (HSCB, WEB). What can happen in moments where we see some theologically interesting passages, we start chasing those discussions. And that’s good. I have spent the last four years engaged in exciting discussions about how to interpret the opening chapters of Genesis, how to read Revelation most accurately, what to do with discrepancies with Scripture, how to understand the state of believers after death. All these are IMPORTANT points that need to be addressed. In your own time, I encourage you to dive into the preceding ideas and verse five of John 17.

However, because I only have a limited time to write, I will assume that you only have a limited time to read. The key point Jesus made is not the interpretation of John 17:5, but John 17:3.

“This is eternal life:

that they may know You, the only true God,

and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ.”

Read that again. And again. And again.

Commit that to memory.

While I understand and agree that theological discussions are important, I don’t want us to lose sight of the war we are in. We are in a battle against the temptations driven by our world and our culture, against the temptations that well up inside ourselves, and against demonic and Satanic forces that would like for nothing more than to destroy every human. But Christ gives us a clear picture here: eternal life is about knowing God and Jesus.

I try not to pit John 17:3 and 17:5 against each other, but I want us to see the bigger point.

17:5 provides us with an important and interesting theological discussion.

17:3 speaks to the very heart of faith.

17:5 is a game we play; an important, fun activity, with an interesting outcome.

17:3 is the war we wage; souls will live or die based on their understanding of Jesus as Messiah and Mediator to God.

I encourage you to think about how you stand in all this…

Is the most important conversation you have with someone to convince them that you know more about Scripture?

Or is the most important conversation you have with someone to convince them that Jesus is the only way to God?

Focus your energy, this Easter/Resurrection Sunday and the following weeks, into telling those who don’t know Christ that Jesus loves them and wants to connect them to God.

Fight the war you are in.

When you win the war, play the games later.

(Author’s Note: This article is purely the opinion of Jake Ballard and does not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Grow Bible Devotions.)

-Jake Ballard

(Grow Bible Devotion’s Note: Preach it, brother! Let’s fight this war! And, maybe someday in our foxhole I will get to hear your thoughts on John 17:5. Thank you for writing!)

Tag: John 17

This is Eternal Life