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John Chapter Seventeen

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Prayers of the Son of God the Savior Before His Departure

  A. To Pray for Himself:

1. May the Father glorify the Son that the Son also may glorify the Father (v.1-3).

2. May be glorified with the Father together with the glory which the Son had with the Father before the world was (v.4-5).

  B. To Pray for His Disciples at that Time (the First Disciples)

1. They were the Father¡¦s and had kept the Father¡¦s word (v.6-10).

2. May the Father keep through His name those whom He have given the Lord that they may be one (v.11-13).

3. May the Father keep them from the evil one for they are not of the world (v.14-16).

4. May the Father sanctify them by His truth (v.17-19).

  C. To Pray for His Disciples in the Future (the Whole Assembly)

1. They believe in the Lord through the word testified by the apostles (v.20).

2. May that they all may be one as the divine Trinity is one (v.21-23).

3. May that they may behold the Lord¡¦s glory (v.24).

4. May the love of God and the Lord Himself abide in them (v.25-26).

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

John. 17:1 ¡§Jesus spoke these words lifted up His eyes to heaven and said: "Father the hour has come. Glorify Your Son that Your Son also may glorify You ¡¨

   YLT: ¡§These things spake Jesus and lifted up his eyes to the heaven and said -- `Father the hour hath come glorify Thy Son that Thy Son also may glorify Thee ¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§Jesus spoke these words¡¨ ¡§these words¡¨ referred to the words of the Lord Jesus recorded from chapter 13 to 16.

  ¡§Lifted up His eyes to heaven¡¨ this was a habitual gesture of prayer (see 11:41; Ps 123:1; Mark 7:34) and His prayer came next. An evangelist in the 17th century had ever made proper commentary on this prayer of the Lord in this chapter: ¡§after a grandly unique sermon (chapter 14-16) the Lord presented the greatest prayer throughout history¡¨. Many Bible exegetes called the prayer in this chapter ¡§the great prayer of the high priest in the Holy of holies¡¨.

  ¡§Father¡¨ in this chapter the Lord had called God Father six times (see v.5 11 21 24 25). The word ¡§Father¡¨ indicates that God is the origin of everything and life comes from Him.

  ¡§The hour has come¡¨ ¡§the hour¡¨ referred to the appointed hour in the dispensation of God so the hour of the Lord¡¦s suffering had come. All His life teachings and words were prepared for this ¡§hour¡¨. This verse also indicated that: (1) the Lord had never walked in disorder but according to the prescribed order which was counseled elaborately. (2) Everything happened according to the time schedule of God. (3) God is the king! What He had appointed had to be fulfilled accurately neither too early nor too late.

  ¡§Glorify Your Son¡¨ ¡§glory¡¨ refers to the manifestation of God (see Ex 40:34). When God is hidden He is God. When He is revealed He is glory. ¡§Son¡¨ is the declaration of the Father (see 1:18). The inner divinity had been hidden in the incarnated Jesus who took the humble bondman¡¦s form that many people could neither recognize Him nor know God (see v.3). Now He would give His divine life through His death and resurrection so when He was crucified on the cross he has been glorified (see 12:23).

  ¡§That Your Son also may glorify You¡¨ when the Lord Jesus was glorified through the manifestation of His divinity God would also be glorified in the Lord.

  ¡§Glorify Your Son that Your Son also may glorify You.¡¨ ---- This is the first desire of the Lord Jesus in His prayer for Himself.

  Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Prayer is the expression of one¡¦ heart. Just like we can know what a person the Lord is from His prayer. Our prayers also manifest what a believer we are.

     2) The aloud prayer of the Lord here is motivated by His love to His disciples ---- He has an eager expectation that the disciples can know the relationship of them with God.

     3) The zealous desire in the Lord is not the salvation of men but the glory of God. Salvation is the secondary for it is also for the glory of God.

     4) What the Lord Jesus concerns most is not the glory of Him but a greater thing i.e. to glorify the Father. He seeks to be glorified by the Father so as to glorify the Father.

     5) The highest goal of prayer is to glorify God and to exalt God. This is why we should start from worshipping God when we are praying (see Matt 6:9).

     6) There are two functions of the cross: in the negative aspect it has fulfilled the salvation. In the positive aspect it has given the life ---- to glorify God. The cross is the only way of entering glory.

     7) The purpose of the salvation is leading us to glorify God. No matter in what condition we are or any infirmity we have we also live for the purpose of glorifying God and manifesting His glory. The focus of the glad tidings is the declaration the glory of God.

     8) The Father has been glorified in the Son. He shall never be glorified outside the Son for the Father has given the Son all He is and all He has.

 

John. 17:2 ¡§as You have given Him authority over all flesh that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§according as Thou didst give to him authority over all flesh that -- all that Thou hast given to him -- he may give to them life age-during;¡¨

Meaning of Words: ¡§authority¡¨: liberty power; ¡§flesh¡¨: carnal;

Literal Meaning: ¡§as You have given Him authority¡¨ the idea of ¡§giving¡¨ is very emphatic (see v.4 6-9 11-12 14 22 24). ¡§Authority¡¨ here includes: (1) the authority over all flesh; (2) giving eternal life to men; (3) ¡§laying it down and taking it again¡¨ (see 10:18).

  ¡§The authority over all flesh¡¨ ¡§all flesh¡¨ refers to all the mankind (see Gen 6:3; 2Cor 2:14). The Lord¡¦s authority over all flesh is particularly exercised on those who are of Him ---- they can see personally and hear the manifestation of the glory of God (see 2Pet 1:16-18; 1 John 1:1-3) so as to bear witness of Him (see v.20).

  ¡§That He should give eternal life¡¨ God gives the Lord authority so that men have got the chance of receiving eternal life. ¡§The eternal life¡¨ is not only a blessing in the future but also a divine life ---- such life not only enables men to live eternally but also is a life of high quality with the divine disposition of God. This divine life has the special function of knowing God and Christ (see v.3; Matt 11:27).

  ¡§You have given Him.¡¨ ---- Here it emphasizes again that God takes the initiative in the salvation. God gives eternal life to men through the Lord Jesus. However such life is not given to everyone but those who are given to the Lord by the Father namely the chosen ones by the Father.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Authority and eternal life are the content of the ¡§glory¡¨ of God.

     2) The Father has given the Lord Jesus Christ all things concerning the world and the mankind into His hands. And Christ is supervising and ruling everything in the world. Therefore everything that happens in us has His good will so we can receive it at ease.

     3) The Father gives the authority to the Son so as to let the Lord rule men and take care of men and thus they can keep alive on the earth.

     4) The Lord has authority over everything even the devil. We are in the steady guidance of Him is there anything that makes us fear?

     5) The Lord Jesus is the beloved gift to the world given by the Father in the heaven (see 3:16) and the believers are the beloved gift to the Lord Jesus given by the Father in the heaven too. We believers should not despise ourselves for each of us is the gift to the Son given by the Father.

     6) The salvation a gift of God is granted by God. Men can only receive but contribute nothing.

     7) No one can make himself be a Christian for no one can produce the Christian life in himself. Only Christ can give men eternal life.

     8) Christians are those who partake of the nature of God. The difference between Christians and those who are not does not lie in the extent but nature. Therefore even the lowest Christian is better the most excellent one who is not Christian.

 

John. 17:3 ¡§And this is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§and this is the life age-during that they may know Thee the only true God and him whom Thou didst send -- Jesus Christ;¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§they may know You the only true God¡¨ ¡§know¡¨ in the original is the same word as ¡§knowing¡¨ the spouse in the Bible (see Matt 1:25). Therefore it refers to not only the objective knowledge but also the intimate relationship like the husband and wife ---- they know each other thoroughly and have the fellowship with the other one (see 10:14-15; 14:17) which is an growing experience.

This verse describes God is: (1) the ¡§only¡¨ God ---- there is none other God except for Him (see 5:44; Rom 16:27; 1Tim 1:17; 6:15-16; Judas 24). (2) The ¡§true¡¨ God ---- only He is the true and living God all the other gods are false (see 1The 1:9; Lev 19:4; 2Chr 16:26; Ps 96:5).

¡§This is eternal life.¡¨ ---- It has two meanings: (1) He who knows God and Jesus Christ has eternal life. (2) To know God and Jesus Christ is eternal life. ¡§Eternal life¡¨ on one hand has been received by us for knowing God and Jesus Christ and on the other hand enables us to know God and Jesus Christ.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) We should know not just He is ¡§the only true¡¨ God but also He is our savior for unless we know the latter one we will never obtain eternal life from Him.

     2) ¡§Jesus¡¨ refers to His incarnation. ¡§Christ¡¨ indicates that He is the anointed one who comes to save us. Every great truth is included in the name of ¡§Jesus Christ¡¨. This name enables us to know the only true God. Yes the way of knowing God is to know Christ. If one wants to know God he should know Christ first (see 1:18; 14:9; 2Cor 4:6; Matt 11:27).

     3) Eternal life is not a matter outside of Christ but Christ Himself. We can partake of His divine life through the union with Him.

     4) To know Christ is to know God. Then one will have the eternal life. If we want to obtain the richer life (see 10:10) we should only seek to know more about God and Christ.

     5) Believers do not need to be instructed to know God (see Heb 8:11; Phil 3:10) for the new life in every believer has the function of knowing God and Christ.

 

John. 17:4 ¡§I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§I did glorify Thee on the earth the work I did finish that Thou hast given me that I may do .¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§I have glorified You on the earth¡¨. ---- It indicated that the life of the Lord Jesus ¡§on the earth¡¨ had already manifested His divinity in Him.

  ¡§I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.¡¨ ---- Although the Lord¡¦s greatest work of redemption would not be fulfilled until His crucifixion on the cross He had indeed accomplished what God had entrusted to Him as far as His walks and ministrations of preaching on the earth concerned.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Whatever you do do all things to God's glory (see 1Cor 10:31).

     2) The Lord Jesus had fulfilled the great salvation that God had entrusted to Him. We may have rest in His fulfilled works through faith.

     3) The Lord¡¦s salvation is an accomplished salvation. We need neither do anything nor provide any good works except for receiving. In Christ and only in Christ everything has fulfilled.

     4) To fulfill what God will do is to glorify God. He who has accomplished what God will do will enter glory (see v.5).

 

John. 17:5 ¡§And now O Father glorify Me together with Yourself with the glory which I had with You before the world was.¡¨

YLT: ¡§`And now glorify me Thou Father with Thyself with the glory that I had before the world was with Thee;¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§O Father glorify Me together with Yourself¡¨ this is the second desire of the Lord Jesus in His prayer for Him. When He prayed it His eyes had surpassed the cross and gazed at His glory which He had taken off.

  ¡§Before the world¡¨: before the foundation of the world i.e. in the past eternity.

  ¡§With the glory which I had with You¡¨ such ¡§glory¡¨ was not that He had never enjoyed but the one which He had with the Father. The Lord meant: ¡§when I had accomplished the purpose of coming to the world through the cross may the Father give me the glory which I had before.¡¨

  Note that the Lord in this verse used ¡§Me¡¨ or ¡§I¡¨ instead of the ¡§Son (see v.1b)¡¨ which showed us that the meanings of the two ¡§glories¡¨ He sought were different. The former one in verse one refers to the glory manifested in the cross. The latter one in this verse refers to ¡§the glory from the past eternity¡¨.

  According to the original there are three times of the word ¡§with¡¨ which indicates the person and the deity of the Son who has the equal status with the Father ---- in the divine glory the Father and the Son are one.

 

John. 17:6 ¡§"I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours You gave them to Me and they have kept Your word. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§I did manifest Thy name to the men whom Thou hast given to me out of the world; Thine they were and to me Thou hast given them and Thy word they have kept;¡¨

Meaning of Words: ¡§manifest¡¨: reveal appear and manifestly declare; ¡§word¡¨: the abiding word (logos);

Literal Meaning: ¡§I have manifested Your name to the men¡¨ according to the doctrines of the Scripture the name of God is inseparable from His nature. The name of God is the nature and reality of God. ¡§Manifest¡¨ means ¡§reveal¡¨ or ¡§explain¡¨ so this verse means that the Lord has revealed the Father to His disciples. The Lord reveals God by using His own life disposition life works doctrines and etc.

  ¡§They have kept Your word¡¨. ---- ¡§Your word¡¨ refers to the word of God. It refers to the abiding word in the original namely the word written in the Scripture.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Nothing is more important than knowing God for us. It is really a pity that we may be a zealous and religious religionist but still know neither the name of God nor God Himself.

     2) Unless we have known clearly God and Christ we can not call ourselves ¡§Christians¡¨.

     3) ¡§They were Yours You gave them to Me¡¨. ----Apparently all those who have been saved are of the Father and the Father gives them to the Son. It also unveils that once we have been saved we shall be saved forever. If one thinks that he may perish again after receiving the salvation it is like that the Father remove what has already given to the Son. God can never do like this.

     4) The one who really knows God must keep His word. All those who do not keep His word must have not known God completely.

 

John. 17:7 ¡§Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.¡¨

YLT: ¡§now they have known that all things as many as Thou hast given to me are from Thee ¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§all things which You have given Me¡¨ what the Father has given the Son are: (1) authority (see v.2); (2) believers (see v.2 6 9 24); (3) work (see v.4); (4) word (see v.8); (5) name (see v.11-12); (6) glory (see v.22 24).

Enlightenment in the Word: Christians are those who clearly know all things that God has done through Jesus Christ.

 

John. 17:8 ¡§For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§because the sayings that Thou hast given to me I have given to them and they themselves received and have known truly that from Thee I came forth and they did believe that Thou didst send me.¡¨

Meaning of Words: ¡§words¡¨: the transient words (rhema); ¡§receive¡¨: hold obtain;

Literal Meaning: ¡§for I have given to them the words which You have given Me¡¨ the ¡§words¡¨ are the words of God referring to the transient words in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

  This verse mentions three conditions of becoming believers: (1) to receive the words of God; (2) to know truly that the heavenly origin of the Lord Jesus; (3) to believe His commission of coming into the world.

  ¡§Receiving¡¨ shall be first and ¡§knowing¡¨ and ¡§believing¡¨ shall follow behind. When we receive and accept the word of God we may usually meet some word hard to understand. However if we open our heart and keep it the Holy Spirit will work in us and lead us. Then that abiding word written in the Holy Scripture will become the inspired word by the Holy Spirit thus enabling us to know and believe the Christ described in the word of God.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) As a Christian one should know clearly about the savior Jesus. If one does not know Him he can not be counted as a Christian.

     2) Christians believe not only the Nazarene Jesus is the only begotten Son of God but also that God has sent Him to the earth.

     3) Christians ¡§receive¡¨ the word of God first and then ¡§know¡¨ and ¡§believe¡¨ the word of God. When we read the Scripture though we may meet difficult verses we shall still keep the word of the Christ in us richly instead of giving up (Col 3:16). At the season many questions will be readily solved.

 

John. 17:9 ¡§"I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me for they are Yours. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§`I ask in regard to them; not in regard to the world do I ask but in regard to those whom Thou hast given to me because Thine they are ¡¨

Meaning of Words: ¡§pray¡¨: ask beseech and entreat;

Literal Meaning: ¡§I pray for them¡¨. ---- The words ¡§pray¡¨ (see v.15 20) and ¡§desire¡¨ (v.24) are used to describe the expression to the other one in the close fellowship including the meaning of ¡§I wish¡¨ or ¡§I will¡¨. In the prayer of the Lord Jesus to God the Father He remembered all those who were of Him expressing His desire and will.

  ¡§I do not pray for the world¡¨. ---- It did not mean that the Lord did not concern others for even at this moment He still prayed for the world ---- ¡§that the world may believe (v.21)¡¨ ¡§that the world may know (v.23)¡¨. Obviously He did not give up the world.

  The Lord¡¦s words here meant: ¡§although I shall grant grace to the world I do not pray for the world at present but pray for those who will have contact with the world so that they will be serviceable to Me and bring the right knowledge and faith of God to men.¡¨

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Though the Lord did not pray for the world His prayer for the disciples was still for the purpose of the world. We might say that He prayed for the sake of the world.

     2) We believers have been granted the edification and perfection of the Lord thus enabling us to bring the glad tidings and witness of Christ to the world. We are not living for the desire of ourselves but the will of the Lord.

 

John. 17:10 ¡§And all Mine are Yours and Yours are Mine and I am glorified in them.¡¨

YLT: ¡§and all mine are Thine and Thine mine and I have been glorified in them;¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§And all Mine are Yours and Yours are Mine¡¨ it means that they are one (see 10:30) and they have the same mind thought and purpose ---- the same nature essence glory authority power and sovereignty. All that belongs to the Son belongs to the Holy Father. Likewise all that belongs to the Holy Father belongs to the Son. The Father and the Son partakes of everything unconditionally.

    ¡§I am glorified in them.¡¨ ---- Just like when the patients¡¦ sickness has been healed the doctors will be glorified. When believers¡¦ disease of sins has been saved they may glorify the Lord in many aspects: (1) they are saved. (2) They may bring others to be saved. (3) They may live in the life of God and bear good testimonies.

 

John. 17:11 ¡§Now I am no longer in the world but these are in the world and I come to You. Holy Father keep through Your name those whom You have given Me that they may be one as We are. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§and no more am I in the world and these are in the world and I come unto Thee. Holy Father keep them in Thy name whom Thou hast given to me that they may be one as we;¡¨

Meaning of Words: ¡§keep¡¨: hold fast reserve;

Literal Meaning: ¡§Holy Father¡¨ this appellation appears only once in the New Testament. ¡§Holy¡¨ indicates that the disposition of God is holy (see 1Pet 1:15-16; Rev 4:8; 6:10). ¡§Father¡¨ shows that God is so merciful. The appellation of ¡§Holy Father¡¨ reveals the nature of God ---- His transcendence and His kindness. He is both fearful and merciful.

  ¡§And I come to You¡¨ the Son will go to the Father ultimately for they are one.

  ¡§Keep through Your name those whom You have given Me¡¨ there are many translations of this verse: (1) ¡§keep those whom You have given Me for the sake of your name¡¨; (2) ¡§keep those whom You have given Me with your name¡¨; (3) ¡§keep them for the sake your name which You have given Me¡¨; (4) ¡§keep them in your name which You have given Me¡¨.

  The name of God stands for His being and His life (see the commentary of verse 6). Only those who have the divine life can partake of the name of God. Believers have been granted the eternal life by the Lord (see v.2) so they are kept in the name of God.

  ¡§They may be one¡¨. ---- ¡§Being one¡¨ is ¡§becoming one¡¨ in the original. Each of the believers has the same divine life from God within himself so that their outward language and behavior may become identical with each other. It makes no distinction among them ---- they have fellowship with one another and love one another.

  ¡§Keep through Your name those whom You have given Me that they may be one¡¨ in the original it means ¡§keeping them remaining in oneness¡¨ rather than ¡§making them into oneness¡¨. The Oneness has been already given by God and we need no longer strive for it (see Eph 4:3-6).

 ¡§As We are¡¨ it indicates that the oneness among believers is like the oneness between the Father and the Son. Such oneness is neither in organization nor in emotion nor in reason nor in attitude but in life

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) God is the ¡§Holy Father¡¨ who is holy. Every time we come to God let us serve Him acceptably with reverence and fear for our God a consuming fire (see Heb 12:29).

     2) ¡§Holy Father¡K that they may be one¡¨ it speaks that how earnestly the Lord desires that His church on the earth shall be one. Therefore the situation of divisions and religious sects in the Christianity has gone against the will of the Lord and destroyed the purpose of the Lord which is completely unacceptable to the Lord

     3) The outward oneness among believers is based on the fact that they all have the nature of the oneness ---- the name of God namely the divine life.

     4) ¡§Oneness¡¨ is an established spiritual fact. The responsibility of believers is not to destroy this ¡§oneness¡¨.

 

John. 17:12 ¡§While I was with them in the world I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§when I was with them in the world I was keeping them in Thy name; those whom Thou hast given to me I did guard and none of them was destroyed except the son of the destruction that the Writing may be fulfilled.¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§except the son of perdition¡¨ ¡§the son of perdition¡¨ referred to Judas. ¡§Perdition¡¨ indicated that he was doomed to perdition because of His sins.

  ¡§That the Scripture might be fulfilled¡¨ ¡§the Scripture¡¨ refers to the Book of Psalm (41:9).

 

John. 17:13 ¡§But now I come to You and these things I speak in the world that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§`And now unto Thee I come and these things I speak in the world that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves;¡¨

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The frequent meditation of the Lord¡¦s words may fill us with great joy.

     2) The joy that we seek is not of this world but of the Lord.

 

John. 17:14 ¡§I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world just as I am not of the world. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§I have given to them Thy word and the world did hate them because they are not of the world as I am not of the world;¡¨

Meaning of Words: ¡§word¡¨: the abiding word (logos);

Literal Meaning: ¡§I have given them Your word¡¨ there are two kinds of the word that the Lord has given us: (1) the transient word (see v.8); (2) the abiding word (v. 14 17).

  ¡§And the world has hated them¡¨ the ¡§world¡¨ is the system that against God and the people of God. The word ¡§world¡¨ has appeared for 18 times in this chapter. Since believers are not of the world and neither agree with the world nor follow the life style of the world they will be hated by the world.

  ¡§Because they are not of the world¡¨ ¡§the world¡¨ represents the lifestyle without regarding God as the center. It is the lifestyle and belief against God. ¡§Be not of the world¡¨ it means that they are not guided or controlled by such belief and lifestyle which are opposed to God.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) He who receives the word of the Lord is standing on the status that is against the world.

     2) Christians live in the world but their attitudes towards life are different from that of the world for their life is God-centered.

 

John. 17:15 ¡§I do not pray that You should take them out of the world but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§I do not ask that Thou mayest take them out of the world but that Thou mayest keep them out of the evil.¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§I do not pray that You should take them out of the world¡¨. ---- For their works are just in the world. Believers ¡§are not of the world (see v.14 16)¡¨ and ¡§do not leave the world¡¨ which indicates that: (1) though the status of the believers is ¡§surpassing the world¡¨ their life is ¡§in this world¡¨. (2) Though the believers are ¡§in this world¡¨ physically their spirit should keep ¡§surpassing the world¡¨. (3) Believers should live in the life that ¡§surpasses the world¡¨ so that they will not join in the evil-doings when they are ¡§in the world¡¨.

  ¡§But that You should keep them from the evil one¡¨. ---- ¡§The evil one¡¨ might be male or neutral. The former one refers to the devil and the latter one refers to sins. This verse suggests that the evil one and the attack of sins are truly the potential crisis.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) When we believers meet difficulties we shall not ask to leave the world but seek to be protected in the world (see Rev 3:10).

     2) Christians should not be the monks who keep themselves clean and pure but live among others to perform the functions of ¡§being the salt¡¨ and ¡§being the light¡¨ (see Matt 5:13-16).

     3) The Scripture does not encourage the passive attitudes towards life. The spiritual devotion of Christians may receive the heavenly equipments so that they can life the divine life before men.

     4) The devil entices the believers to love the world by all means. The overcomers are those who live in the world but are sanctified by Lord¡¦s word and are delivered from the enticement of the devil.

 

John. 17:16 ¡§They are not of the world just as I am not of the world. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§`Of the world they are not as I of the world am not;¡¨

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Believers are those who are of the Lord not the world. Such distinction is very important. Many believers are defeated by the life in the world because of the ignorance of this distinction.

     2) since we are not of the world our attitudes towards all things in the world should be distinct from that of the world and we shall be controlled by nothing.

 

John. 17:17 ¡§Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§sanctify them in Thy truth Thy word is truth;¡¨

Meaning of Words: ¡§sanctify¡¨: hallow be holy; ¡§word¡¨: the abiding word (logos);

Literal Meaning: ¡§Sanctify them by Your truth¡¨ ¡§sanctify¡¨: to being holy (see v.19). It indicates that they will be sanctified and serviceable to God which refers to not only the sanctification in the status (see Matt 23:17 19) but in reality (see Rom 6:19 22).

  The disciples shall not depart from the world (see v.15) but live in the world to fulfill their commission on the earth (see v.18) yet surpass the lust of the world (see v.14 16; 1John2:16). The Lord prayed the Father to sanctify them in His life of truth (which is embodied in Him).

  ¡§Your word is truth.¡¨ ---- ¡§Your word¡¨ refers to the word of God. All that God has spoken is true without any falsehood so the word of God is the reality and the truth.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The word of God is to sanctify men (see Acts 20:32). The more we receive the word of God the more obviously and more thoroughly we will be separated from the world.

     2) The truth shall be the holy light and guidance for men. The more we have read the Holy Scripture the more we are separated from the world.

 

John. 17:18 ¡§As You sent Me into the world I also have sent them into the world. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§as Thou didst send me to the world I also did send them to the world;¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§as You sent Me into the world¡¨ this is the greatest truth of sending and the best example of sending ---- which is also the greatest sending.

 

John. 17:19 ¡§And for their sakes I sanctify Myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§and for them do I sanctify myself that they also themselves may be sanctified in truth.¡¨

Meaning of Words: ¡§sanctify¡¨: hallow be holy;

Literal Meaning: ¡§and for their sakes I sanctify Myself¡¨ ¡§their¡¨: the disciples¡¦ (see v.6). The Lord Himself is holy and His nature is holy. Therefore here ¡§sanctify¡¨ does not indicate that whether we have been sanctified or not but whether we have been separated. The Lord Jesus here sanctifies himself for the disciples¡¦ sake. It shows that He can do many things which have not conflict with His holiness actually but He gives up His right for the sake of the disciples¡¦ infirmity.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) We believers should consider others in our walking and never put a stumbling-block or a fall-trap before our brothers (Rom 14:13-21).

     2) Everyone who serves God should learn to be sanctified in his words and deeds. For example if you saw others talking about some improper topics the first thing you had to do was to be separated from that situation and keep away from their talking (see Eph 4:29; 5:4).

 

John. 17:20 ¡§"I do not pray for these alone but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ¡¨

YLT: ¡§`And not in regard to these alone do I ask but also in regard to those who shall be believing through their word in me;¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§I do not pray for these alone¡¨ ¡§these¡¨ refers to the Lord¡¦s disciples.

  ¡§But also for those who will believe in Me through their word¡¨ ¡§those who will believe in Me through their word¡¨ refers to the believers throughout the past two thousand years.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The prayer of the Lord in chapter seventeen is a prayer for us. No matter in what condition we are He always concerns us and pray for us (see Heb 7:25).

     2) The meaning of the Lord¡¦s prayer for us is to put us in the hand of God. Is there any other hand more reliable than that of God in this world? Oh! What a great consolation for us of knowing that God is concerning for us remembering us and protecting us.

     3) The Lord prayed for the first disciples (who represented the church) and for those who believed Christ later (i.e. the churches all over the world). It unveils that the stature of the fullness of Christ surpasses the restriction of region and man-induced factors and needs the universal church to take and manifest it.

 

John. 17:21 ¡§that they all may be one 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. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§that they all may be one as Thou Father in me and I in Thee; that they also in us may be one that the world may believe that Thou didst send me.¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§as You Father are in Me and I in You¡¨ it indicates that the oneness of Christians is just like the union between the Father and the Son in life. The Father is in the Son so the Father is of the Son. The Son is in the Father so the Son is of the Father.

  ¡§That they also may be one in Us¡¨ it shows that the true oneness can be perfected only in the life of the divine Trinity.

  ¡§That the world may believe that You sent Me¡¨ the oneness of believers should have a great impact upon others so as to enable them to believe the commission of Christ.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The division among Christians is diametrically opposed to the life of the divine Trinity which shows that we have not lived in the divine life.

     2) The Christianity has been divided into many sects though it has historic origin it is still for short of the glory of God. It is difficult to persuade the world of Christ.

     3) Christians shall only live in the oneness of life according to the will of the Lord thus persuading the world into believing the Lord.

     4) ¡§That they all may be one¡Kthat the world may believe that You sent Me.¡¨ ---- Obviously the oneness of Christians should be fulfilled in the world today. Therefore we should not always suppose that we would not be one until we came to the heaven in future.

 

John. 17:22 ¡§And the glory which You gave Me I have given them that they may be one just as We are one: ¡¨

YLT: ¡§`And I the glory that thou hast given to me have given to them that they may be one as we are one;¡¨

Literal Meaning: this verse refers to the oneness in the divine glory. When believers deny completely themselves and refuse to live in the natural life but live in the divine life through the divine disposition what they have manifested will be not only the glory of God but also the oneness of them.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The purpose of God¡¦ works is to head up all things (see Eph1:10) and the result of that is to manifest the glory of God (see Eph1:12). If the children of God do not enter the oneness first all things will not be gathered together in one so the oneness of the children of God is the key to manifest the glory of God.

     2) The theme of this prayer is glory and oneness. Yes only when the Father has manifested His fullness of glory in the Son can there be the true oneness in the church. Only when the church is one in the only name of Christ (see v.11) can the divine Trinity be fully glorified unto all generations of the age of ages (see Eph 3:21).

     3) The Son of God prayed to the Father for the oneness of the church just like the oneness of the divine Trinity. It speaks that only the oneness of Christ is the oneness of the church. The church should regard the full Christ as the only center (any additional organization name opinion or so-called ¡§truth¡¨ should not be included) so that the church will be one truly. Just like the Apostle Paul said: ¡§¡Kto head up all things in the Christ (Eph 1:10)¡¨.

 

John. 17:23 ¡§I in them and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§I in them and Thou in me that they may be perfected into one and that the world may know that Thou didst send me and didst love them as Thou didst love me.¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§that they may be made perfect in one¡¨ ¡§be made perfect¡¨ it confesses the fact that though Christians have the one life they still lack the performance of oneness so they need to be perfected. The perfect performance of oneness comes from the entire obedience to the Lord who abides in us.

  ¡§And that the world may know that You have sent Me¡¨ the oneness of believers is on the purpose of ¡§making the world know¡¨ which is deeper than ¡§making the world believe (see v.21)¡¨. When believers are perfected in one Christ has also been glorified in all the believers. Then the world will not only believe but also know that Christ has been sent by God.

  ¡§And have loved them as You have loved Me¡¨ the oneness of believers has a purpose concerning the glad tidings which has something to do with the commission of the Lord Jesus as well as the Love of God to men and to Christ. In other words the love of God plays an important role in the oneness of believers.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Only when Christ rules in every believer of us can we be perfected in one truly.

     2) The oneness of Christ is a glorious witness which shall have a great impact upon the world.

     3) The love of God is the motive force for the oneness of believers. The true oneness will also manifest the love of God.

 

John. 17:24 ¡§"Father I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§`Father those whom Thou hast given to me I will that where I am they also may be with me that they may behold my glory that Thou didst give to me because Thou didst love me before the foundation of the world.¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§where I am¡¨ ¡§where¡¨ ---- the place where the Lord Jesus had manifested His glory. He went to the glory through the cross so it referred to the experience of the cross.

  ¡§Desire that they also whom You gave Me¡¨ ¡§desire¡¨ ---- this is the last will of the Lord Jesus for His disciples.

  ¡§May be with Me¡¨ the Lord desires that we who are of Him may have fellowship with Him in the glory of the cross through which we can partake of His cross and obtain glory ---- this is the excellent blessing for Christians.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The Lord asked the Father to make us with Him forever. Yes the most important thing for we believers is to be with the Lord. If we lost the presence of the Lord we will lose everything. May the Father grant this prayer and make us live in the presence of the Lord no matter in any place or at any time.

     2) The Son of God will ultimately be in the fullness of the glory of the Father. Therefore He prayed for the church expecting that the church would enter the full glory of the Father with Him together in the end. This what Christ the church as well as the creature are expecting ---- the manifestation of the sons of God and the firstborn in glory (Rom 8:19).

 

John. 17:25 ¡§O righteous Father! The world has not known You but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ¡¨

YLT: ¡§`Righteous Father also the world did not know Thee and I knew Thee and these have known that Thou didst send me ¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§O righteous Father¡¨ such appellation only appears here in the New Testament. ¡§Righteousness¡¨ is the principle of the works of God. God cannot be unrighteous in anything.

 

John. 17:26 ¡§And I have declared to them Your name and will declare it that the love with which You loved Me may be in them and I in them." ¡¨

YLT: ¡§and I made known to them Thy name and will make known that the love with which Thou lovedst me in them may be and I in them.'¡¨

Literal Meaning: ¡§and I have declared to them Your name¡¨ the Lord will reveal the being of God to the believers (see v.11-12).

  ¡§And will declare it¡¨ it shows that our knowledge about God should be abundant yet more and more.

  ¡§That the love with which You loved Me may be in them and I in them¡¨ the more we have the personal experience of the love of God and the indwelling Lord the more we will reach the Lord¡¦s expectation on us.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

I.  The Various Glories

A.   Glorify Your Son that Your Son also may glorify You (v.1) ---- the glory of the cross.

B.   I have glorified You on the earth ---- the incarnation manifests the glory of God (v.4).

C.   O Father glorify Me together with Yourself (v.5) ---- the glory of the eternity.

D.   I am glorified in them (v.10) ---- the manifestation of the glory of the risen life.

E.   The glory which You gave Me (v.22 24).

 

II.What the Father Has Granted to the Son

A.   Give Him the authority (v.2)

B.   Give Him the believers (v.2 6 9 24)

C.   Give Him the works (v.4)

D.   Give Him the word (v.8)

E.   Give Him the name (v.11-12)

F.    Give Him the glory (v.22 24)

 

III.   The Relation of the Lord Jesus with His Disciples

A.   The Lord used the authority given by God to give eternal life to them (v.2).

B.   The Lord made them know God and Jesus Christ (v.3).

C.   The Lord manifested the name of God to them (v.6).

D.   The Lord gave them the word of God and they have kept the word (v.6-8).

E.   The Lord prayed for them (v.9).

F.    The Lord kept them (v.12).

 

IV.  What the Son Has Granted to the Disciples

A.   Give them the eternal life (v.2).

B.   Give them the transient word (v.8).

C.   Give them the abiding word (v.14).

D.   Give them glory (v.22).

 

V.   The Status of the Believers

A.   Whom the Father has given to Christ (v.2 5 9).

B.   Who receive and keep the word of the Lord (v.6-8)

C.   Who surely know Christ (v.8).

D.   Who glorify Christ (v.10).

E.   Who are filled with the Lord¡¦s joy (v.13).

F.    Who are not of the world (v.14 16).

G.   Whom God loves (v.23).

H.   Who have the love of God and Christ Himself within (v.26).

 

VI.  How Will the Lord Jesus Be Glorified by the Believers (v.10)?

A.   He shall be glorified by the oneness of believers (v. 11 21-23).

B.   He shall be glorified by the sanctification of believers (v.14-19).

C.   He shall be glorified by the believers who ¡§may be with Him¡¨ (v.24).

D.   He shall be glorified by the believers who have ¡§the Lord¡¦s love¡¨ and ¡§the Lord Himself¡¨ (v.25-26).

 

VII. The Oneness of the Believers

A.   The origin of the oneness ---- the Holy Father (v.11a)

B.   The sphere of the oneness ---- them (v.11b) ---- those who believe the Lord (v.21)

C.   The nature of the oneness ---- just as the Father and the Son are one (v.11c 22b)

D.   The way of the oneness

1.    Through the Lord¡¦s name (v.11-12)

2.    Through being sanctified by the truth (v.14-21a)

3.    Through being in God and Christ (v.21b)

4.    Through the glory of the Lord (v.22a)

5.    Through God and Christ who are in believers (v.23a)

E.   The effect of the oneness

1.    That the world may believe Christ (v.21c)

2.    That the world may know the love of Christ and God (v.23b)

 

VIII.   The Relation of the Believers with the World

A.   Being sent to the world by the Lord (v.18)

B.   Being not of the world (v.14 16)

C.   Being not taken out of the world (v.15a)

D.   Being kept from the evil one (v.15b)

E.   Being sanctified (v.19) ---- to be sanctified from the world unto God

 

IX.   The Mystery of Sanctification

A.   To look upon the protection of God (v.15)

B.   To be sanctified by the truth (the word of God) (v.17 19b)

C.   To imitate the example of the Lord¡¦s sanctification (v.19a)

 

¢w¢w Caleb Huang¡mChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series¡n

   Translated by Mary Zhou