Side by side
John 17
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: The Hour Has ComeVerses 1 to 5
Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed.
"Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You" (17:1).
"The hour" is the time of his death and rising. To glorify means to show someone's greatness.
The Father gave Jesus authority over all people, so that he could give eternal life to everyone the Father gave him.
"Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent" (17:3).
Eternal life is not only about living forever. It is knowing God, starting now.
Jesus said he had finished the work the Father gave him. He asked to be glorified with the glory he had with the Father before the world began.
1When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. 2For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. 3Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.
Section 2: They Were YoursVerses 6 to 10
Next, Jesus prayed about his disciples.
He said the Father had given them to him. They had kept God's word.
Jesus had given them the words the Father gave him. They had received them. They believed that the Father sent him.
"I ask on their behalf" (17:9). On their behalf means for them.
6I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. 8For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 9I ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours. 10All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine; and in them I have been glorified.
Section 3: Protect ThemVerses 11 to 19
Jesus would soon leave the world. His disciples would stay in it.
"Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one" (17:11).
While Jesus was with them, he kept them safe. Not one was lost, except Judas, "the son of destruction" (17:12).
Jesus prayed that they would have his joy in full.
The world hated them, because they belonged to Jesus.
"I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one" (17:15). The evil one is the devil.
"Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth" (17:17). To sanctify means to make holy, to set apart for God.
Jesus was sending them into the world, the same way the Father sent him.
11I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one. 12While I was with them, I protected and preserved them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. 13But now I am coming to You; and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them. 14I have given them Your word and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. 18As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.
Section 4: For Those Who Will BelieveVerses 20 to 23
Then Jesus prayed for people who were not in the room.
"I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message" (17:20).
That means everyone who would later hear about Jesus and believe. That includes people today.
He prayed "that all of them may be one" (17:21). He wanted them united, like the Father and the Son, so the world would believe that the Father sent him.
Jesus has given them the glory the Father gave him, so that they may be one. The world will see that the Father loves them, just as he loves Jesus.
20I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— 23I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
Section 5: With Me Where I AmVerses 24 to 26
"Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me" (17:24).
The Father loved Jesus before the world was made.
Jesus ended with a promise. He had made the Father's name known to them, and he would keep making it known, so that the Father's love would be in them, and Jesus himself in them.
24Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me. 26And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them.”
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