15.01.09 Jn. 17:20-26
JESUS PRAYS FOR BELIEVERS
20 I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message.
21 May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.
22 I have given them the glory
You have given Me.
May they be one as We are one.
23 I am in them and You are in Me.
May they be made completely one,
so the world may know You have sent Me
and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.
25 Righteous Father! The world has not known You. However, I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. 26 I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.
“I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one.” John 17 is often referred to as the “high priestly prayer” of Jesus. Its significance is that it reveals His love and concern for those who will believe in Him in future generations. This phrase in verse 23 clearly identifies the loving relationship Jesus has with his Father in heaven as well as with the unity of His people with Him.[1] In this passage Jesus identified Himself with Jehovah (17:23) and is Jehovah God Almighty.[2]
[1]. See “Jesus, the Fulfiller of Selected Names of God” in Appendix 32 for additional attributes.
[2]. See Appendix 32 and Evans, Praying through the Names of God. 15-16.