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Jesus Prays for His Followers
In this prayer, Jesus speaks to the Father about glory, eternal life, his present followers, and those who will later believe. It helps us hear what Jesus asks for his people and how he describes their life with God.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
John 17:1–26 is a connected prayer from Jesus to the Father. He begins with the Father, the Son, glory, and eternal life. He then prays for the people given to him, asking that they be kept, protected, sanctified in truth, and united. He also includes future believers.
John 17:1–26Main takeaway
Jesus prays that his followers will know God through him, remain in the world under the Father’s care, and share a unity that shows the Father sent the Son.
Explore the prayer
01Glory and eternal lifeJesus begins by asking the Father to glorify the Son so that the Son may glorify the Father.
Explanation
Jesus begins by asking the Father to glorify the Son so that the Son may glorify the Father. He says the Father gave him authority to give eternal life to those given to him. Jesus then defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent.
02The followers Jesus receivedJesus says he revealed the Father’s name to the people given to him. They received the words Jesus gave them, knew that he came from the Father, and believed that the Father sent him.
Explanation
Jesus says he revealed the Father’s name to the people given to him. They received the words Jesus gave them, knew that he came from the Father, and believed that the Father sent him. Jesus prays particularly for these followers and asks that they may be one.
03In the world, yet kept in truthJesus says his followers are still in the world, and he does not ask for them to be taken out of it.
Explanation
Jesus says his followers are still in the world, and he does not ask for them to be taken out of it. Instead, he asks that they be kept from the evil one. He says they are not of the world and asks, “Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.”
04Sent people and future believersJesus says the Father sent him into the world, and he has sent his followers into the world.
Explanation
Jesus says the Father sent him into the world, and he has sent his followers into the world. Then he extends his prayer to those who will believe through their word. He asks for unity so that the world may believe and know that the Father sent him.
05Love, glory, and God made knownJesus desires that those given to him will be with him and see his glory. He says the world has not known the Father, but Jesus has known him, and his followers know that the Father sent him.
Explanation
Jesus desires that those given to him will be with him and see his glory. He says the world has not known the Father, but Jesus has known him, and his followers know that the Father sent him. Jesus has made the Father’s name known so the Father’s love may be in them.
Questions to explore
01How does Jesus define eternal life in this prayer?
Look closely at Jesus’ own words and notice that eternal life is described as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent.
02What does Jesus ask for his followers while they are still in the world?
Trace the requests in the middle of the prayer and note that Jesus asks for keeping, protection, and sanctifying, not removal from the world.
03Who else does Jesus include beyond the followers already with him?
Read where Jesus speaks about later believers and notice how they are connected to the followers’ word and to the prayer for unity.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
John 17:1–26
1Jesus said these things, then lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you;
2even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
4I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.
5Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.
6“I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.
7Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you,
8for the words which you have given me I have given to them; and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me.
9I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
10All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.
12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have kept those whom you have given me. None of them is lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
14I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.
16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.
18As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.
19For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
20“Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word,
21that they may all be one; even 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.
22The glory which you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one,
23I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved me.
24Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.
26I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”