_These words spake Jesus_ Namely, the words recorded in the three preceding Chapter s; _and lifted up his eyes to heaven_ Put himself in the posture of prayer. The following has been called Our Lord's Intercessory Prayer, because it is considered as a pattern of the intercession he is now making in... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have glorified thee on earth_ My doctrine, example, and miracles have manifested thy glory here on earth. _I have finished the work thou gavest me to do_ I have almost finished the work which I undertook for man's redemption. _And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thyself_ Or, _in thine own pre... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have manifested thy name_ All thy attributes; and in particular thy paternal relation to believers; _to the men which thou gavest me out of the world_ The apostles; and so John 17:12. _Thine they were_ By creation, by preservation, by descent from Abraham, and by being members of thy church, unde... [ Continue Reading ]
_I pray for them_ Who have attended me as my apostles. These only he prays for here, as appears from John 17:12, where he says, he had kept all the persons he was praying for in the faith and practice of true religion, except the son of perdition; and from John 17:18, where he says, he had commissio... [ Continue Reading ]
_And now I am no more in the world_ Having finished the work thou gavest me to do in it; _but these_ My apostles; _are in the world_ Exposed to various hardships and dangers; _and I come to thee_ Whom I have chosen and served, and whom my soul thirsteth after; to thee, the Fountain of light and life... [ Continue Reading ]
_These things I speak in the world_ That is, before I leave the world; _that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves_ I offer this prayer in behalf of my apostles, with this intention; that being heard for them, they may receive all the endowments necessary to qualify them for converting the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither pray I for these alone_ I do not make my apostles the only subjects of this my last prayer; I pray likewise for all such as shall by their word, whether preached or written, be brought to _believe on me_, in whatever age or nation; _that they_ also, being influenced by the same Spirit, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Father, I will_ He asks as one having a right to be heard; and prays, not as a servant, but as a Son; _that they also whom thou hast given me_ Not only my apostles and first disciples, but all my believing, loving, and obedient people; _may be with me where I am_ Namely, in that heavenly world to w... [ Continue Reading ]
_O righteous Father_ Faithful and just, as well as merciful. When he prayed that believers might be sanctified, he called him _holy Father:_ but now, praying that they might be glorified, he terms him _righteous Father:_ for it is a crown of righteousness which the righteous Judge will give, and the... [ Continue Reading ]