Yochanan 17

1 7 These things said Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach. And having lifted up his eyes to Shomayim, he said, Avi, the sha’ah (hour, time) has come. Give kavod to your Ben [HaElohim], that HaBen may give kavod to You,

2 Vi-bahlt (since) you have given him samchut (authority) over kol basar for this purpose: in order that all which you have given him, HaAv may give to them Chayyei Olam. [DANIEL 7:14]

3 And this is Chayyei Olam, that they may have da’as of the only Elohei HaEmes (G-d of Truth, True G-d) and Yehoshua, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach whom You sent.

4 I have given You kavod on ha’aretz, having completed the melakhah which You have given me, that I should do.

5 And now give me kavod, Avi, along with Yourself with the kavod which I was having with You before HaOlam came to be [Yn 1:13; Prov 8:30; 30:4].

6 I manifested Shemecha to the Bnei Adam whom You gave me out of the Olam Hazeh. They were Yours and to me You gave them, and regarding the dvar of You they have been shomer.

7 Now they have da’as that all things whatsoever You have given to me are from You.

8 Because the dvarim which You gave me, of these I have been shomer, and they received them, and they have da’as beemes that from You I came forth, and they have emunah that You sent me.

9 I make a bakosha (petition, request) concerning them, I do not make a bakosha concerning the Olam Hazeh, but concerning the Ones You have given me, because they are Yours.

10 And all things that are mine are Yours, and Your things are mine, and I have been given kavod in them.

11 And I am no longer in the Olam Hazeh, but they are in the Olam Hazeh, and I am coming to You, Avi HaKadosh. Be shomer over them in Shmecha, which You have given me, that they may be Echad as we are Echad. [Ps 133:1; Dt 6:4; Gn 2:24]

12 When I was with them, I was keeping them in the Shem of You, which You have given me, and I kept shomer, and none of them perished or was lost, except the Ben HaAvaddon (the Son of Destruction, Perdition, the state of final spiritual ruin, Gehinnom), that the Kitvei Hakodesh might be fulfilled. [TEHILLIM 24:22; 41:9; 109:4,5,7,8]

13 And now to You I am coming, and I speak these things in the Olam Hazeh that they may have my simcha made shleimah in themselves.

14 I have given to them the dvar of You and the Olam Hazeh has had sin’as chinom (hatred without cause) of them, because they are not of the Olam Hazeh, just as I am not of the Olam Hazeh.

15 I do not make a bakosha that You take them out of the Olam Hazeh, but that You keep them from HaRah.

16 They are not of the Olam Hazeh, just as I am not of the Olam Hazeh.

17 Set them apart for a use that is kodesh in HaEmes (The Truth). [1Kgs 17:24; 2Sm 7:28] Your Dvar is HaEmes.

18 As You sent me into the Olam Hazeh, so also I send them into the Olam Hazeh. [TEHILLIM 119:142, 160]

19 And for their sake, I set myself apart as kodesh that they also may be set apart for use that is kodesh in HaEmes.

20 However, I do not make a bakosha concerning these only, but also concerning the ones becoming ma’aminim in me [as Moshiach] because of their Dvar,

21 That all may be echad, as You, Avi, are in me and I am in You, [YIRMEYAH 32:39] that also they may be in us, that the Olam Hazeh may have emunah (faith) that You sent me.

22 The kavod which You have given me, I have given them, that they may be echad just as we are echad.

23 I in them and You in me that they may become tamim (perfect) in Achdut (Unity) that the Olam Hazeh may have da’as that You sent me, and had ahavah for them, just as You have ahavah for me.

24 Elohim Avi, as to that which You have given me, I desire that where I am, those also may be with me, that they may behold my kavod, which You have given me, because You had ahavah for me before the hivvased haOlam.

25 Avi HaTzaddik, indeed the world did not have da’as of You, but I knew You, and these ones knew that You sent me.

26 And I have made known to them the Shem of You and will make it known, that the ahavah with which You loved me may be in them and I in them.

Yochanan 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.