John 17:20“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,”
Commentary: Jesus is not just praying for His disciples in the room—He’s praying for all future believers. That includes us. He acknowledges the power of the gospel message to reach people across generations.
Cross-References:
- Acts 2:41 (NIV) – “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
- Romans 10:17 (NIV) – “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
John 17:21“that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
Commentary: Jesus prays for a unity among believers that mirrors the unity between Himself and the Father. This unity serves a purpose: to show the world that Jesus truly came from God.
Cross-References:
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV) – “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters… that all of you agree with one another… so that there may be no divisions among you…”
- Philippians 2:2 (NIV) – “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
John 17:22“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—”
Commentary: The “glory” refers to God’s presence, character, and divine mission. Jesus imparts this to His followers so they can live in the kind of unity He shares with the Father.
Cross-References:
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) – “And we all… are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
- Colossians 1:27 (NIV) – “To them God has chosen to make known… this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
John 17:23“I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Commentary: Jesus makes clear that unity is deeply spiritual—rooted in His indwelling presence. Our unity testifies not just to His mission, but to the reality that God loves us as He loves the Son.
Cross-References:
- Galatians 2:20 (NIV) – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
- Ephesians 4:13 (NIV) – “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature…”
John 17:24“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
Commentary: Jesus wants His followers not just to believe in Him, but to be with Him forever. His prayer is that we will share in His eternal glory and behold the fullness of God’s love.
Cross-References:
- John 14:3 (NIV) – “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
- Revelation 21:3 (NIV) – “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.”
John 17:25“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.”
Commentary: Despite the world’s spiritual blindness, Jesus affirms the disciples’ growing knowledge of God through Him. This is a relational knowing, not merely intellectual.
Cross-References:
- Matthew 11:27 (NIV) – “No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
- 1 John 5:20 (NIV) – “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true.”
John 17:26“I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Commentary: Jesus commits to an ongoing revelation of the Father, so that believers will experience God’s love and His personal presence in a lasting, transforming way.
Cross-References:
- John 14:21 (NIV) – “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me… and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
- Romans 5:5 (NIV) – “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…”
Why We Should Find Hope in John 17:20–26
These verses show the depth of Jesus’ love and vision for His Church—not just for a moment in history, but for all eternity. He knew our names, our challenges, and our potential for division, and still He prayed for our unity, glory, and love. The same glory the Father gave the Son, He gives to us. The same love the Father has for the Son, He extends to us. And Jesus wants us with Him forever.
This passage is a glimpse into heaven through the eyes of Christ—and it assures us that we belong.
Key Takeaways
- Jesus personally prayed for all future believers—including us today.
- Christian unity is essential to our witness and reflects the unity of the Trinity.
- We share in Christ’s glory and are called to live in spiritual oneness.
- God’s love for Jesus is the same love He pours into us.
- Jesus desires eternal fellowship with us—and is preparing us for it.