John 17:1-11a
Chapter 17
Jesus’ Priestly Prayer
You have given him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you have entrusted to him.
For this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
So now, Father, give me the glory I had with you before the world began.
I have made your name known to those you’ve given me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Now they know that everything you gave me is from you.
I have given them the teaching you gave me, and they accepted it. They know in truth that I came from you, and they believe that you sent me.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those who belong to you and whom you have given to me.
Indeed, all I have is yours, and all you have is mine; and I have been glorified in them.
I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep those you have given me in your name, so that they may be one as we are one.
Commentaries
Jesus’ Priestly Prayer
This chapter features Jesus’ longest prayer. It reveals the close relationship between a Father who is fully loving and a completely obedient Son. The glory Jesus requests matches the resurrection, which also involves the disciples and all who accept the revelation with faith and demonstrate love as the Son did. The phrase “eternal life” refers to communion with the Risen Lord. This reality, although it will be fully realized in the last days, is already visible in the present. Every act of love, performed in the image of Jesus’ love, reflects eternity, which surpasses time. Verse 14 talks about the gift of revelation and the hatred of the world. The world is viewed as everything opposed to Jesus Christ; from this perspective, the world and Jesus’ community are two opposing and irreconcilable realities (cf. 15:18ff). The main part of the prayer is a plea for the sanctification of the disciples so they can carry out their mission (17-19). This explains what happens before and after. Jesus’ glorification depends on the sanctification and mission of the disciples. Jesus’ earthly mission is nearing its end; however, the mission of the Church is only beginning and opens up to history and the future. Yet, the Church is not alone: the Father sanctifies and protects her; the Son gathers her through His word and His life-giving presence; the Spirit strengthens her with the power of her witness and prophecy. The end of the prayer (26) corresponds to the beginning of the farewell discourse, which started in chapter 13 as a conclusion. In fact, in 13:1, the evangelist introduced the supper with the words: “Having loved his own, he loved them to the end.” Now, in verse 26: “I will make your name known to them, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.” This act: “I will make known” refers to the near future; it is clearly directed toward the passion, where Jesus will demonstrate his love for the Father in a clear way, without doubt or hesitation, until the end, which is death.