John 17

Gazing Upwards: Insights from Jesus' High Priestly Prayer

As we explore John Chapter 17, we are invited into one of the most profound moments in the New Testament—Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Just before His crucifixion, He prays intimately with the Father, offering us valuable lessons about His priorities, His relationship with God, and His mission for us. This passage challenges us to keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, especially during times of trial, and reminds us of the eternal perspective we are called to maintain.

A Powerful Focus on God

The chapter opens with a striking image: Jesus gazing upwards as He prays. This simple action is rich in meaning. It symbolizes His focus on the Father, despite knowing the suffering that awaits Him. In the midst of pain and uncertainty, Jesus exemplifies the wisdom of keeping our gaze on God rather than being consumed by our problems. Just as we teach children to pray with bowed heads, there’s also value in “praying with eyes wide open,” seeing and engaging with our reality through a lens of faith. This dual focus—on God and the world—shapes our spiritual lives and strengthens our connection with Him.

The Cross: Glorification Through Sacrifice

A pivotal moment in this prayer comes when Jesus declares in verse 1, “Father, the hour has come.” Here, He acknowledges that His time for sacrificial death is upon Him. What strikes us is His view of the cross—not as a symbol of defeat, but as the means of glorification for both the Father and Himself. This reflects the upside-down wisdom of the Gospel, where God’s plan for salvation unfolds through the most unexpected of circumstances. It’s a reminder that what seems like weakness or failure in the world can be the very means by which God brings about victory and glory.

Jesus also highlights that we are not just God’s creations but His gifts. He reminds us that we are deeply cherished by God, woven into His plan for relationship. The cross becomes not only a moment of sacrifice but an expression of deep love and commitment to humanity.

Sanctification and Unity: Living Out Our Faith

In verse 17, Jesus prays for the sanctification of His followers, asking, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." Sanctification is often understood as a lofty spiritual process, but Jesus reveals that it’s also about the everyday moments of our lives. It’s about being connected to God not just in moments of worship but throughout our daily interactions. Our spiritual growth happens in the mundane, in the way we live out our relationship with God in every circumstance.

Jesus also prays for unity among believers—both those present and those who will come to faith in the future. This unity is not merely theological; it’s a call for us to live in a tangible, loving community with God and one another. As we experience the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are invited to reflect that same unity in our relationships with fellow believers.

Embracing the “Mission: Love and Trust in the Process

Jesus concludes His prayer with a powerful statement about His mission for His followers: "I have made you known to them... in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them" (John 17:26). This mission calls us to reflect God’s love to the world and to live out the same love that Jesus has for us. It’s not always easy, and often we may feel discouraged, but we are reminded that God sees us, loves us, and has important work for us—even when we don’t see the immediate results.

In times of pruning, when we feel stagnant or disconnected, we are encouraged to trust the process. Just as a plant grows beneath the surface before bearing fruit, our spiritual growth may not always be visible, but it’s essential to the fulfillment of God’s purposes. We are called to trust in God’s timing, knowing that He is working in and through us for His glory.

As we face our own struggles, we must remember that our journey is part of a larger story—one that God is writing with us. The challenges we encounter are not the end of the story, but part of the process of refining us into the likeness of Christ. With our eyes fixed on the future, we are empowered to live out the truth of God’s promises, trusting that He is with us in every season of life.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit from Eternity

Before we conclude, it’s important to highlight a few key points Jesus makes regarding His relationship with the Father and their eternal timeline. In John 17:5, Jesus says, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” This reminds us that God the Father and God the Son are co-equally God and have existed from eternity. They are distinct persons within the one Godhead. Their unity and equality are further emphasized in verse 10: “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.”

Lastly, it’s important to recognize that the triune God has always been a God of love. Love has eternally existed between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He did not create us to begin the act of loving; He has always been a God of love! As John 17:24b says, “...you have loved me before the creation of the world.” While the Spirit is not directly mentioned in these particular verses, He has been included in the Trinitarian relationship in the previous chapters of John 14-16, as well as in many other scriptures.