Single lesson
Jesus Prays for His Followers
John 17:1–26
In this lesson, children hear Jesus praying to the Father. They will notice who Jesus prays for, what he asks for, and how the prayer moves from Jesus’ words about himself to prayer for his followers and later believers.
Before you teach
John 17 records Jesus speaking to the Father. He begins with words about glory, authority, eternal life, and the work given to him. Then he prays for the people given to him, who remain in the world, and later for those who will believe through their word.
Students will be able to name that Jesus is praying to the Father, identify requests that his followers be kept, sanctified in truth, and one, and explain that the prayer moves from Jesus’ work to his disciples and then to later believers.
Welcome: Who is speaking, and how does the prayer begin?
4 minTell the children they are about to listen to a prayer spoken by Jesus. Read John 17:1 aloud and ask them to listen for the speaker and the one being addressed. Point out the words “Father” and “lifting up his eyes to heaven”. Briefly explain the movement they will hear: Jesus begins with the Father and his own completed work, then prays for his followers, and later for other believers.
John 17:1, John 17:4, John 17:6, John 17:20
Read and explain: Jesus speaks about glory, life, and his finished work
7 minRead John 17:1-5. Explain that Jesus asks the Father to glorify the Son so that the Son may glorify the Father. He also says that eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent. Help children notice that Jesus says he has accomplished the work given to him, so the prayer opens with Jesus’ words about the Father, himself, and his work.
John 17:1, John 17:2, John 17:3, John 17:4, John 17:5
Discuss: Jesus prays for his followers in the world
7 minRead John 17:6-19. Ask children to listen for what Jesus says about his followers. He says they have received his words, belong to the Father, and are still in the world. Jesus does not ask that they be taken out of the world. He asks the Father to keep them, keep them from the evil one, and sanctify them in the truth. Explain that “sanctify” here means being set apart in God’s truth.
John 17:6, John 17:8, John 17:11, John 17:15, John 17:17, John 17:18, John 17:19
Make and respond: Prayer card with key words and images
8 minChildren create a simple card divided into three parts: “glory”, “truth”, and “one”. In each part they draw or write a phrase from the prayer. Encourage them to include words such as “Your word is truth” or “that they may all be one”. As they work, remind them that these are key themes Jesus speaks about when praying for himself, his followers, and later believers.
John 17:1, John 17:17, John 17:21
Closing: Jesus also prays for future believers
4 minRead John 17:20-26. Point out that Jesus says he is praying not only for the first disciples but also for those who will believe through their word. Emphasise the repeated request for oneness and the closing words about God’s love being in them. Finish by asking children to say one thing they learned Jesus prayed for.
John 17:20, John 17:21, John 17:23, John 17:26
Questions to explore
According to John 17:3, what is eternal life?
Guide children to answer using the verse’s own words about knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent.
John 17:3
In John 17:15-17, what does Jesus ask the Father to do for his followers while they are in the world?
Look for the specific requests: keep them from the evil one and sanctify them in the truth, then notice that God’s word is called truth.
John 17:15, John 17:17
Who else does Jesus pray for in John 17:20-21 besides the first disciples?
Help children find that Jesus includes people who will believe through the disciples’ word, and notice that he asks for them to be one.
John 17:20, John 17:21
Make, think or respond
Glory, Truth, One Prayer Card
What you’ll need
- paper or light card
- pencils or textas
- crayons
- Bible
Try it together
- Fold or divide a sheet into three sections labelled “Glory”, “Truth”, and “One”.
- Read John 17:1, John 17:17, and John 17:21 together.
- In each section, children draw a simple picture or copy a short phrase that matches the verse.
- Invite each child to explain one section of their card using the Bible words.
The card highlights several key themes from Jesus’ prayer, including glory, truth, and oneness.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, pre-write the three headings and let them draw one picture for each part instead of copying words.
- For older or stronger readers, ask them to add a fourth panel from John 17:15 with words about being kept from the evil one and explain how that request fits the prayer.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: Father, thank you for this prayer of Jesus. Please help us trust your word and live together in love. Amen.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
John 17
1 Jesus 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;
2 even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
4 I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.
5 Now, 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.
7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you,
8 for 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.
9 I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
10 All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 I 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.
12 While 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.
13 But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
14 I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.
19 For 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,
21 that 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.
22 The glory which you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one,
23 I 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.
24 Father, 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.
25 Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.
26 I 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.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.