Grace Baby, Grace

John 17:6-19

In John 17:6-19, Jesus prays for His disciples in what is often referred to as His "High Priestly Prayer." As He prepares for His crucifixion, Jesus addresses His Father on behalf of His followers. He begins by acknowledging that He has revealed the Father to the disciples, who have accepted and believed that Jesus came from God. He asserts that the words and teachings He has given them are directly from the Father and that the disciples have received these truths.

Jesus emphasizes that His prayer is specifically for His disciples, not for the world in general. He recognizes that His followers are not of the world, just as He is not of it. He asks God to protect them from evil and to sanctify them in the truth; His word is truth. As Jesus has been sent into the world by the Father, He too has sent His disciples into the world. He sanctifies Himself for their sake, that they too may be truly sanctified. This passage highlights the close relationship between Jesus, His disciples, and the Father, and it reflects Jesus’ concern for the spiritual welfare and unity of His followers as they continue His mission in the world.

Authorship

The Gospel of John is a book in the Bible that is traditionally believed to have been written by John the Apostle, who was known as the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 21:20-24). However, many modern scholars think that the book was likely written by a later group of people who were influenced by John's spiritual and theological ideas. This means that the text may have changed over time to reflect the beliefs and teachings of the community that wrote it rather than being a direct account of someone who witnessed the events described in the Gospel. (Brown, 122).

Audience

The Gospel of John was composed for a group of people who had likely been banished from the synagogues, and were attempting to discover their identity within a predominantly non-Christian society. Although the audience was knowledgeable about Jewish customs, they were also substantially influenced by Hellenistic culture and philosophy. This context provides insight into the Gospel's emphasis on cosmic and philosophical themes, which are presented in a way that harmonizes Jewish and Hellenistic concepts. (Köstenberger 142).

Date and Setting

The Gospel of John is believed to have been written in the late first century, around 90-110 AD, most likely in Ephesus or another city in Asia Minor. During this time, there were growing conflicts between the emerging Christian communities and both Jewish and Roman authorities, which influenced the themes of conflict and identity within the gospel (Köstenberger, 85).

Purpose and Themes

In the Gospel, John 17 reaffirms that Jesus has a divine mission and authority. It emphasizes that He existed before His earthly life and is one with the Father. The chapter highlights the ideas of sanctification, unity among believers, and the glorification of Jesus in fulfilling His mission. The purpose of Jesus' prayer was to prepare His disciples for the challenges that lay ahead and to promote a vision of spiritual unity and divine love (Carson, 556-560).

Structure

The structure of John 17 can be divided into three parts:

1. Jesus prays for Himself (verses 1-5), focusing on the completion of His work and His glorification with the Father.

2. Jesus prays for His disciples (verses 6-19), emphasizing their protection and sanctification.

3. Jesus prays for all future believers (verses 20-26), highlighting the theme of unity among followers and the love of the Father that encompasses Jesus and His believers.

Significance

The Gospel of John is believed to have been written to address the theological debates and challenges faced by a Christian community during the late first century. The community was grappling with issues surrounding the nature of Christ, the significance of faith, and the role of love in Christian life. In particular, John 15 and the Farewell Discourse served as a means to strengthen the community against both internal and external pressures. The teachings of Jesus were deepened to foster a more cohesive and loving community in response to persecution. (O'Day 404).

Exegesis

John 17:6

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word."

Jesus begins by acknowledging that He has revealed the Father to the disciples, who were chosen from the world. This distinction between being "from the world" and "belonging to the Father" emphasizes that the disciples were divinely selected and called, highlighting their acceptance and obedience to God's word (Köstenberger, 290).

John 17:7 

"Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you." 

This verse emphasizes the disciples' recognition of Jesus' teachings and works as being of divine origin. It emphasizes the theme of Jesus' ministry as directly sourced from the Father (Carson, 568).

John 17:8 

"For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me." 

Jesus confirms that his teachings have been successfully transmitted to his disciples. The disciples' acceptance and belief in Jesus' divine origin confirm the Christian doctrine of the incarnation and divine mission (Moloney, 502).

John 17:9 

"I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours." 

Jesus specifically highlights His intercession for the disciples, emphasizing their unique role and the divine protection they enjoy (Brown, 774).

John 17:10 

"All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them." 

This mutual possession between the Father and the Son illustrates their unity and the disciples' role in manifesting Jesus' glory, indicating a reciprocal relationship of divine attributes and glory shared among them (Köstenberger, 292).

John 17:11 

"I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one." 

As Jesus was getting ready to leave the world, His focus shifted towards ensuring the safety and unity of His disciples. He used the divine name, which symbolizes the presence and power of God, as a means of protecting His disciples. Additionally, He pleaded for their unity, as it reflects the unity between the Father and the Son (Carson, 570).

John 17:12

"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled." 

During His ministry, Jesus reflects on His protective role. The mention of the lost disciple (Judas Iscariot) illustrates the sovereignty of God's plan, even in apparent betrayal (Moloney, 505).

John 17:13

"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them." 

Jesus desires His disciples to experience divine joy, emphasizing the continuation of His presence and joy even in His absence (Brown, 778).

John 17:14-16

"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." 

These verses emphasize how the disciples felt isolated from the world because they were loyal to God's truth. Jesus prayed for their protection while still being present in the world, acknowledging their responsibility to spread the message despite facing hostility (Carson, 573).

John 17:17-19

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them, I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." 

In this passage, Jesus ends with a prayer for his disciples to be sanctified, which means to be dedicated to God's work through the truth of his teachings. By being set apart for his mission, Jesus serves as an example for his disciples and prepares them for their own mission in the world (Moloney, 508).

John 17:6-19 Through the Lens of Wesleyan/Methodist Theology

From a Methodist/Wesleyan perspective, John 17:6-19 is profoundly significant as it encapsulates John Wesley's emphasis on sanctification and the assurance of faith. In this passage, Jesus’ prayer for His disciples reveals His desire for their spiritual protection and sanctification, which resonates deeply with Wesley’s teachings on Christian perfection. Wesley believed that sanctification is the process through which believers are progressively transformed by God’s grace to live in holiness. In this scriptural segment, Jesus acknowledges that His followers are not of the world, mirroring Wesley’s view that Christians, though in the world, are called to live a distinct, holy life guided by the truth of the Gospel. Moreover, Jesus’ request for His disciples' unity and protection from evil underscores the Methodist commitment to communal faith and mutual accountability within the Body of Christ. This prayer not only highlights the personal and communal aspects of faith but also reinforces the Methodist belief in the transformative and sustaining power of God's grace. 

John 17:6

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word." 

Wesleyan theology places significant importance on divine revelation and obedience. This resonates with John Wesley's doctrine of prevenient grace, which suggests that God takes the lead in the human relationship with divine revelation. It enables a response to God's grace even before conscious faith begins (Outler, 85).

John 17:7

"Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you." 

This reflects Wesley's teaching on the assurance of faith, where believers gain a deep understanding of their spiritual inheritance and divine origin, which is central to Methodist ecclesiology and soteriology (Langford, 102).

John 17:8

"For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me." 

Wesleyan theology places significant emphasis on the role of Scripture as a means of receiving divine grace. The disciples' acceptance of Jesus' teachings is a powerful example of how such grace can transform individuals, leading to a deeper sense of faith and understanding. This aligns with Wesley's view that faith is an experiential journey and that our experiences and encounters with God are critical to our spiritual growth (Maddox, 158).

John 17:9

"I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours." 

According to John Wesley's interpretive framework, the fact that God's grace is available to everyone doesn't diminish the unique role of the Church and its community of believers in His salvific plan. This is a fundamental aspect of Methodist inclusivity (Outler, 89).

John 17:10

"All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them." 

The concept of sanctification in Wesley's theology involves reflecting divine glory through a life of grace-filled living, as believers are called to holiness and sharing in the divine nature (Langford, 107).

John 17:11

"I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one." 

This passage reflects Wesley's strong belief in the unity of the Church. The Father's name offers protection, and the unity it promotes reflects Wesley's view that the Church should imitate the unity of the Trinity. This concept is fundamental to Methodist ecclesiology (Maddox, 163).

John 17:12

"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled." 

Wesley might view this as God's protective grace for the chosen, recognizing that while grace is universal, human freedom enables the mystery of sin and rejection of grace, as with Judas (Outler, 92).

John 17:13

"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them." 

Methodist theology emphasizes the joyful assurance of faith, which Wesley sees as a defining characteristic of a believer's life. This joy emanates from the relationship with God and is a result of living in grace (Langford, 109).

John 17:14-16

"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." 

These verses highlight the Methodist belief of living in the world without being influenced by it and pursuing social justice and holiness. Wesley's teachings on Christian engagement without giving in to worldly temptations are relevant here, emphasizing the importance of leading a life of witnessing and serving others, protected by divine grace (Maddox, 167).

John 17:17-19

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them, I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." 

Sanctification is a vital concept in Wesleyan theology. It refers to the process of becoming holy through the truth of God's word. Wesley believed that sanctification involves both personal and communal holiness. This reflects the Methodist commitment to living a life that is both inwardly and outwardly devout (Outler, 95).

Works Cited