John 17 Study Notes

17:7-8 The portrayal of Jesus here is reminiscent of the description of the “prophet like” Moses in Dt 18:18.

17:9-11 Here begins Jesus’s actual prayer for his disciples. His primary prayer is for protection from the evil one, which will be realized as they are unified and made holy in the truth, God’s word.

17:12 Even Judas’s betrayal happened in fulfillment of Scripture. The antecedent passage is probably Ps 41:9. This text is applied to Jesus in Jn 13:18. Other Scriptures fulfilled through Judas are Ps 69:25 and 109:8 (cited in Ac 1:20).

17:13-17 These things probably refers to the entire farewell discourse. In the midst of the world’s hostility, Jesus’s desire is that his followers have joy. The end of being made holy by the truth is being equipped for God’s service.

17:18-19 These verses look forward to the commission that Jesus assigned his disciples after his resurrection (20:21).

17:20-26 Jesus did not stop at praying for himself (vv. 1-5) and his disciples (vv. 6-19); his vision transcended the present (Dt 29:14-15). Jesus was concerned for his followers’ unity (Jn 17:21-23) and love (v. 26). The vision of a unified people of God was previously expressed in 10:16 and 11:52. Unity among believers results from the indivisible unity of God (10:38; 14:10-11,20,23; 15:4-5). Once unified, believers are able to bear witness to the true identity of Jesus as the one sent by God.

17:25 Jesus addressed God as Righteous Father. The OT teaches that God is righteous and just (Ps 116:5; 119:137; Jr 12:1). Though his betrayal, torture, and death were looming, Jesus affirmed the righteousness of God his Father.

17:26 The phrase I may be in them is filled with covenantal overtones (v. 23; 14:20). After the giving of the law at Sinai, God came to dwell in the midst of Israel in the tabernacle (Ex 40:34). As they moved toward the promised land, God frequently assured his people that he was in their midst (Ex 29:45-46; Dt 7:21; 23:14).