Juan 17

1 Estas cosas habló Jesús, y levantados los ojos al cielo, dijo: Padre, la hora viene; clarifica a tu Hijo, para que también tu Hijo te clarifique a ti

2 como le has dado la potestad de toda carne, para que a todos los que le diste, les dé vida eterna

3 Esta empero es la vida eterna: que te conozcan el único Dios verdadero, y al que enviaste, Jesús, el Cristo

4 Yo te he clarificado en la tierra; he acabado la obra que me diste que hiciera

5 Ahora pues, Padre, clarifícame tú cerca de ti mismo de aquella claridad que tuve cerca de ti antes que el mundo fuera

6 He manifestado tu Nombre a los hombres que del mundo me diste; tuyos eran, y me los diste, y guardaron tu palabra

7 Ahora ya han conocido que todas las cosas que me diste, son de ti

8 porque las palabras que me diste, les he dado; y ellos las recibieron, y han conocido verdaderamente que salí de ti, y han creído que tú me enviaste

9 Yo ruego por ellos; no ruego por el mundo, sino por los que me diste; porque tuyos son

10 y todas mis cosas son tus cosas, y tus cosas son mis cosas; y he sido clarificado en ellas

11 Y ya no estoy en el mundo; mas éstos están en el mundo, y yo a ti vengo. Padre Santo, a los que me has dado, guárdalos en tu Nombre, para que sean una cosa, como también nosotros

12 Cuando estaba con ellos en el mundo, yo los guardaba en tu Nombre; a los que me diste, yo los guardé, y ninguno de ellos se perdió, sino el hijo de perdición; para que la Escritura se cumpliera

13 Mas ahora vengo a ti; y hablo esto en el mundo, para que tengan mi gozo cumplido en sí mismos

14 Yo les he dado tu palabra; y el mundo los aborreció, porque no son del mundo, como tampoco yo soy del mundo

15 No ruego que los quites del mundo, sino que los guardes del mal

16 No son del mundo, como tampoco yo soy del mundo

17 Santifícalos en tu verdad; tu palabra es la Verdad

18 Como tú me enviaste al mundo, también yo los he enviado al mundo

19 Y por ellos yo me santifico a mí mismo, para que también ellos sean santificados en la verdad

20 Mas no ruego solamente por ellos, sino también por los que han de creer en mí por la palabra de ellos

21 Para que todos sean una cosa; como tú, oh Padre, en mí, y yo en ti, que también ellos sean en nosotros una cosa; para que el mundo crea que tú me enviaste

22 Y yo, la claridad que me diste les he dado; para que sean una cosa, como también nosotros somos una cosa

23 Yo en ellos, y tú en mí, para que sean perfectos en una cosa; y que el mundo conozca que tú me enviaste, y que los has amado, como también a mí me has amado

24 Padre, aquellos que me has dado, quiero que donde yo estoy, ellos estén también conmigo; para que vean mi claridad que me has dado; por cuanto me has amado desde antes de la constitución del mundo

25 Padre justo, el mundo no te ha conocido, mas yo te he conocido; y éstos han conocido que tú me enviaste

26 y yo les he manifestado tu Nombre, y lo manifestaré aún; para que el amor con que me has amado, esté en ellos, y yo en ellos

Juan 17 Commentary

Chapter 17

Christ's prayer for himself. (1-5) His prayer for his disciples. (6-10) His prayer. (11-26)

Verses 1-5 Our Lord prayed as a man, and as the Mediator of his people; yet he spoke with majesty and authority, as one with and equal to the Father. Eternal life could not be given to believers, unless Christ, their Surety, both glorified the Father, and was glorified of him. This is the sinner's way to eternal life, and when this knowledge shall be made perfect, holiness and happiness will be fully enjoyed. The holiness and happiness of the redeemed, are especially that glory of Christ, and of his Father, which was the joy set before him, for which he endured the cross and despised the shame; this glory was the end of the sorrow of his soul, and in obtaining it he was fully satisfied. Thus we are taught that our glorifying God is needed as an evidence of our interest in Christ, through whom eternal life is God's free gift.

6-10. Christ prays for those that are his. Thou gavest them me, as sheep to the shepherd, to be kept; as a patient to the physician, to be cured; as children to a tutor, to be taught: thus he will deliver up his charge. It is a great satisfaction to us, in our reliance upon Christ, that he, all he is and has, and all he said and did, all he is doing and will do, are of God. Christ offered this prayer for his people alone as believers; not for the world at large. Yet no one who desires to come to the Father, and is conscious that he is unworthy to come in his own name, need be discouraged by the Saviour's declaration, for he is both able and willing to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God by him. Earnest convictions and desires, are hopeful tokens of a work already wrought in a man; they begin to evidence that he has been chosen unto salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. They are thine; wilt thou not provide for thine own? Wilt thou not secure them? Observe the foundation on which this plea is grounded, All mine are thine, and thine are mine. This speaks the Father and Son to be one. All mine are thine. The Son owns none for his, that are not devoted to the service of the Father.

Verses 11-16 Christ does not pray that they might be rich and great in the world, but that they might be kept from sin, strengthened for their duty, and brought safe to heaven. The prosperity of the soul is the best prosperity. He pleaded with his holy Father, that he would keep them by his power and for his glory, that they might be united in affection and labours, even according to the union of the Father and the Son. He did not pray that his disciples should be removed out of the world, that they might escape the rage of men, for they had a great work to do for the glory of God, and the benefit of mankind. But he prayed that the Father would keep them from the evil, from being corrupted by the world, the remains of sin in their hearts, and from the power and craft of Satan. So that they might pass through the world as through an enemy's country, as he had done. They are not left here to pursue the same objects as the men around them, but to glorify God, and to serve their generation. The Spirit of God in true Christians is opposed to the spirit of the world.

Verses 17-19 Christ next prayed for the disciples, that they might not only be kept from evil, but made good. It is the prayer of Jesus for all that are his, that they may be made holy. Even disciples must pray for sanctifying grace. The means of giving this grace is, "through thy truth, thy word is truth." Sanctify them, set them apart for thyself and thy service. Own them in the office; let thy hand go with them. Jesus entirely devoted himself to his undertaking, and all the parts of it, especially the offering up himself without spot unto God, by the eternal Spirit. The real holiness of all true Christians is the fruit of Christ's death, by which the gift of the Holy Ghost was purchased; he gave himself for his church, to sanctify it. If our views have not this effect on us, they are not Divine truth, or we do not receive them by a living and a working faith, but as mere notions.

Verses 20-23 Our Lord especially prayed, that all believers might be as one body under one head, animated by one soul, by their union with Christ and the Father in him, through the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The more they dispute about lesser things, the more they throw doubts upon Christianity. Let us endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, praying that all believers may be more and more united in one mind and one judgment. Thus shall we convince the world of the truth and excellence of our religion, and find more sweet communion with God and his saints.

Verses 24-26 Christ, as one with the Father, claimed on behalf of all that had been given to him, and should in due time believe on him, that they should be brought to heaven; and that there the whole company of the redeemed might behold his glory as their beloved Friend and Brother, and therein find happiness. He had declared and would further declare the name or character of God, by his doctrine and his Spirit, that, being one with him, the love of the Father to him might abide with them also. Thus, being joined to Him by one Spirit, they might be filled with all the fulness of God, and enjoy a blessedness of which we can form no right idea in our present state.