John 17: The High Priestly Prayer
Unity and Glory in the Heart of Jesus' Prayer
John Chapter 17
The Prayer of Jesus.
When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.
Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.
Prayer for the Disciples.
“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,
because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours,
and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them.
And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
Prayer for All Believers.
“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
Commentary on John Chapter 17
Glorification of the Son: Jesus begins by asking the Father to glorify him so that he may glorify the Father, highlighting the mutual glorification and the divine mission (John 17:1-5).
Prayer for the Disciples: Jesus prays for his disciples, asking for their protection, unity, and sanctification in truth. He emphasizes their mission in the world and their need for divine protection from evil (John 17:6-19).
Unity and Love for All Believers: Jesus extends his prayer to all future believers, praying for their unity and love, which serves as a testament to the world of God’s love and Jesus’ divine mission (John 17:20-26).
Catechism References for John Chapter 17
CCC 2604: Discusses Jesus’ prayer for his disciples and all believers, emphasizing his intercessory role and the unity he desires for his followers (John 17:20-21).
CCC 2749: Reflects on the High Priestly Prayer, highlighting Jesus’ desire for the unity of his followers and their participation in divine love (John 17:21-23).
CCC 2811: Relates to the sanctification of God’s name, as Jesus prays for his disciples to be consecrated in truth (John 17:17).
Applying John Chapter 17 to Daily Life
Seek Unity in Community: Strive for unity within your community and relationships, reflecting the oneness that Jesus prayed for among his followers. This unity is a powerful witness to the world.
Live in Truth: Embrace the truth of God’s word in your life, allowing it to guide your actions and decisions. Seek to be consecrated in truth, as Jesus prayed for his disciples.
Embrace Your Mission: Recognize your role in the world as a follower of Christ. Like the disciples, you are sent into the world to live out and share the message of Jesus.
Pray for Others: Follow Jesus’ example of intercessory prayer by praying for others, especially for their protection, unity, and growth in faith.
Action Plan
Reflect on Unity Among Believers:
Read Jesus' prayer for the unity of His followers (John 17:20-23).
Reflect on the importance of unity among believers and how it serves as a testimony to the world of God's love and Jesus' mission.
Consider ways you can promote and contribute to unity within your community or church, such as fostering understanding, cooperation, and reconciliation.
Pursue Sanctification Through Truth:
Focus on Jesus' prayer for the sanctification of His disciples through the truth of God's word (John 17:17-19).
Reflect on the process of sanctification, which involves being set apart for God's purposes and growing in holiness.
Identify practices that help you grow in sanctification, such as studying scripture, prayer, and applying biblical truths to your life, and commit to incorporating them regularly.
Embrace the Gift of Eternal Life:
Contemplate Jesus' definition of eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ (John 17:3).
Reflect on the relationship aspect of eternal life, emphasizing a deep, personal knowledge of God and Jesus.
Consider how you can deepen your relationship with God, perhaps through intentional time spent in prayer, worship, and seeking to know Him more intimately.
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