ScriptureStart.com

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: John 17:1

John 17 is a beautiful insight into the communion between Jesus and His Father. In this prayer we can see the characters of both unfolding to our human understanding. Jesus sought no glory for Himself; He led his follows to look upwards to their heavenly Father.

While communicating with His Father, Jesus lifted his eyes to heaven. Jesus came to lead us as a shepherd; therefore, we should follow His example in all things. By lifting up His eyes, He sought to behold His Father and more closely communicate with Him. “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:” The Father and the Son both glorify each other. They give selflessly. Jesus always sought to uplift His Father; and the Father gave His Son as a ransom for our sins. John 3:16; Matthew 20:28.

As thou has given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. John 17:2.

The ones that were given to Jesus are the ones that have “kept thy word”, the ones that hear the word and obey it.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. John 17:3

Life eternal is to “know … God, and Jesus Christ”. We learn to know someone as we spend time with them. By immersing ourselves in God’s word on a basis, and by spending communion with him in private, we begin to know him. If we can but once comprehend the character of God, and understand what He has done for us, how He continues to lovingly draw us to Him; we would be repulsed by the mere thought of sin. As with our Creator, so with human relationships;
the closer our relationship with someone, the more we come to know them, the more we learn to love and take heed to what they say. God wants to know us; he wants to establish a relationship with us, “this is life eternal”.

To not know God is the opposite of eternal life. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained to the people that “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” It is not enough for us to have a religion of doing good things, Jesus desires to know us. Matthew 7:21-23.

To know Jesus is to do the will of His Father. To do the will of the Father makes us brethren unto Jesus. Matthew 12:50. He desires that not one of us should perish. Matt 18:14. To do the will of our Father is to do what he asks us to do. Matthew 21:28-32. Our Father’s will must come before our own. Matthew 26:39, Luke 11:2.

When we choose to not do the will of our Father, we ultimately must suffer the consequences. Luke 12:47. God’s will is that we should believe in Jesus, and by so doing we shall receive eternal life. John 6:40.

To know God

• Is to have eternal life. John 17:3
• Is to do the will of His Father. Matthew 7:21

To not know God

• Comes with consequences. Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 12:47

To do the will of our Father

• Makes us brethren unto Jesus. Matthew 12:50
• Is to have eternal life. John 6:40

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. John 17:4

Jesus could now say that “the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” for “now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Jesus came to “save his people from their sins” and now His work on this earth was closing. The evil one had not provoked Him to the slightest error or deviation from the truth. John 14:30; John 12:31, 32; Matthew 1:21.

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. John 17:5

Jesus left indescribable glory with His Father to come to this earth as the “meek and lowly” One. Matthew 11:29.

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. John 17:6

I have manifested thy name…” Jesus made clear the Father’s love for us. He lived a selfless life and pointed His followers upward. He continually sought to glorify his Father. This is the basis of the kingdom of heaven; God’s people may be spiritually blessed as they become invisible and allow praise and honor and blessings to be given to God, and not themselves. We should never accept praise for any worthwhile thing we have done, but instead allow these things to flow through us to our Father; and only as we do this can the Lord allow these blessings to continue. We should “praise the Lord” when others try to praise us.

“… unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world …” The gift of eternal life is for all (John 3:16); yet for those that choose to follow Him, God calls them His. “… thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.” God’s children are those that “keep His word”. To keep His word, we must know His word. The scriptures which God has given contain his words to us.

Leave a Bible Question, more Scripture Set Verses, or a Comment! :)