Known as the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and all future believers, highlighting themes of unity and His love for them.
1 These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee: 2 even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life. 3 And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ. 4 I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 6 I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word. 7 Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee: 8 for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine: 10 and all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine: and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me. 22 And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one; 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world knew thee not, but I knew thee; and these knew that thou didst send me; 26 and I made known unto them thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, and I in them.
American Standard Version (ASV)
We have referenced the American Standard Version in the passage above, which is in the public domain and is without copyright restrictions when quoted in entirety. The Audio Bible version has been produced using the New International Version (NIV) translation.
John Chapter 17 in the Gospel According to John is often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer, showcasing Jesus’ deep intercession for His disciples and all future believers. This chapter is profound, encapsulating themes of unity, divine mission, and the relationship between Jesus and the Father. It stands as a pivotal moment in the Gospel, reflecting Jesus’ heart for His followers and His desires for them in the world.
In this prayer, Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and for all who will believe in Him through their message. He begins by asking the Father to glorify Him so that He may glorify the Father, highlighting the mutual glorification between the Father and the Son. This part of the prayer emphasizes Jesus’ divine authority and His imminent sacrifice for humanity’s salvation.
A significant portion of the chapter focuses on Jesus praying for His disciples’ protection, unity, and sanctification. He asks that they be protected from the evil one and sanctified in the truth. Jesus’ prayer for unity – that His followers may be one as He and the Father are one – is a profound plea for a deep spiritual unity that reflects the divine relationship between the Father and the Son.
Furthermore, Jesus extends His prayer to include all future believers, praying for their unity and for the world to know God’s love through them. This inclusive prayer underscores the universal scope of Jesus’ mission and the continuation of His work through His followers.
The ‘John 17 Audio Bible’ brings this intimate and powerful prayer to life, providing listeners with an immersive auditory experience of Jesus’ heartfelt intercession. The audio format allows for a deeper connection with the text, making Jesus’ words more impactful and accessible.
For anyone looking to explore the Gospel According to John, especially chapter 17, the ‘John 17 Audio Bible’ is a crucial resource. It offers a unique way to engage with this significant prayer, enhancing personal reflection, study, and spiritual growth. The ‘John 17 Audio Bible’ not only aids in understanding the profound themes of unity and mission but also enriches the listener’s spiritual journey, inviting them into the heart of Jesus’ prayer for His followers.
