John 17:1-5·~1 min

Prayer for the Son

Jesus asks the Father to glorify the Son in the hour that has come, so the Son may glorify the Father. He grounds that request in the authority given over all people for the giving of eternal life.

W¹hen Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. ²For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.

Jesus defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent. He says he has glorified the Father on earth by finishing the assigned work.

³Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. ⁴I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.

Jesus asks to be glorified in the Father’s presence with the glory he had before the world existed.

⁵And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.

Section summaryJesus lifts his eyes to the Father and asks for glory at the appointed hour. He names eternal life as knowing the Father and the Son, then speaks of the work completed on earth and the glory he shared before the world began.

Role in the chapterThis opening movement frames the whole prayer around glory, authority, knowledge, and completed work.