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Outline 051 of 100 · John

The High Priestly Prayer

John 17:1-26 — Christ's intercession and desire for unity and glory with His people

Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.

Synopsis

On the eve of the cross, Jesus turns from instructing His disciples to interceding for them, revealing the heart of our great High Priest before He offers Himself as the sacrifice. He prays first for His own glorification through the cross, defining eternal life as knowing 'the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' He then prays specifically for His disciples' protection, sanctification, and unity 'that they may be one, even as we are one,' a unity modeled on the very fellowship of the Trinity. Remarkably, His prayer extends beyond the eleven to 'them also which shall believe on me through their word' — that includes every believer across history, you and me among them. He closes praying that His people would be with Him to behold His glory, and that the love wherewith the Father loved Him might be in them. This prayer shows righteousness by faith is relational at its core: union with Christ, unity with each other, and beholding His glory forever.

  1. I. The prayer for glory

    • "Glorify thy Son"
    • Eternal life defined as knowing God and Christ
    • Finishing the work given to do

  2. II. The prayer for the disciples

    • Kept from the evil one
    • Sanctified through the truth
    • Not taken out of the world but protected in it

  3. III. The prayer for unity

    • "That they all may be one"
    • Unity modeled on the Trinity's fellowship
    • Unity as evidence to the world

  4. IV. The prayer for future believers

    • "Them also which shall believe on me through their word"
    • Extending to every generation
    • Desiring they behold His glory forever
The appeal

Jesus prayed for you by name before He ever went to the cross. Will you rest in the security of His ongoing intercession, and pursue the unity with fellow believers that He so earnestly desired?

Key points

  • Christ intercedes personally for believers, both then and now.
  • Eternal life is defined relationally: knowing God through Christ.
  • Unity among believers reflects the very fellowship of the Trinity.

Key passages

  • John 17:3
  • John 17:20-21
  • John 17:24
  • Hebrews 7:25