John 17:1-11 (NRSV)
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Chapter 17After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, Verse 2since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. Verse 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Verse 4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. Verse 5So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
Verse 6"I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Verse 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; Verse 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. Verse 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. Verse 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.
Verse 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
Devotion
Jesus’ prayer in the gospel of John follows his final words to his disciples: “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (16:33). Jesus has conquered the world, and he remains triumphant over all that would separate us from a living relationship with his Father.
Jesus’ purpose in coming is to make known God’s name to those whom the Father has given to the Son. Those who have received in faith these words of revelation have come to know the truth that the Father “has sent his only Son that whoever believes in him might not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Just as the Father sent the Son into the world, so also the Son sends those who have heard and believed his words into the world, protected and guarded in the name of the Father.
Prayer
Gracious God, you have sent your only Son into the world that we might know you and follow you into eternal life. Now your Son sends us into the world as he was sent: that all may know you and the gift you have come to give, eternal life in your name. Amen.