CHAPTER XVII. _Christ prays the Father to glorify him_, 1. _In what eternal life consists_, 2-3. _Shows that he has glorified his Father, by fulfilling his will_ _upon earth, and revealing him to the disciples_, 4-8. _Prays for them, that they may be preserved in unity and kept_ _from evil_, 9... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:2. _AS THOU HAST GIVEN HIM POWER_] As the Messiah, Jesus Christ received from the Father _universal dominion_. _All flesh_, i.e. all the _human race_, was given unto him, that by one sacrifice of himself, he might reconcile them all to God; having by his grace tasted death for every m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:3. _THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL_] The salvation purchased by Christ, and given to them who believe, is called _life_: 1. Because the life of man was _forfeited_ to Divine justice; and the sacrifice of Christ redeemed him from that _death_ to which he was exposed. 2. Because the souls of men... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:4. _I HAVE GLORIFIED THEE_] Our Lord, considering himself as _already_ sacrificed for the sin of the world, speaks of having _completed_ the work which God had given him to do: and he looks forward to that time when, through the preaching of his Gospel, his sacrifice should be acknowle... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:5. _BEFORE THE WORLD WAS._] That is, from eternity, before there was any _creation_-so the phrase, and others similar to it, are taken in the sacred writings; see John 17:24; Psalms 90:2; Ephesians 1:4. See John 1:1. Let the glory of my eternal divinity surround and penetrate my human... [ Continue Reading ]
II. Our Lord's prayer for his disciples, John 17:6. Verse John 17:6. _I HAVE MANIFESTED THY NAME_] εφανερωσα, I have brought it into _light_, and caused it to _shine_ in itself, and to _illuminate_ others. A _little_ of the Divine nature was known by the _works of_ _creation_; a little _more_ was k... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:8. _I HAVE GIVEN - THEM THE WORDS_] I have delivered thy doctrine to them, so that they have had a pure teaching immediately from heaven: neither Jewish fables nor fictions of men have been mingled with it. _AND HAVE KNOWN SURELY_] Are fully convinced and acknowledge that I am the pro... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:9. _I PRAY NOT FOR THE WORLD_] I am not yet come to that part of my intercession: see John 17:20. I am now wholly employed for my disciples, that they may be properly qualified to preach my salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus here imitates the high priest, the second part of who... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:10. _I AM GLORIFIED IN THEM._] Christ speaks of the things which _were not_, but which _should_ be, as though they _were_. He anticipates the glorifying of his name by the successful preaching of the apostles.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:11. _I AM NO MORE IN THE WORLD_] I am just going to leave the world, and therefore they shall stand in need of peculiar assistance and support. They have need of all the influence of my intercession, that they may be preserved in thy truth. _KEEP THROUGH THINE OWN NAME THOSE WHOM THO... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:12. _I KEPT THEM IN THY NAME_] In thy doctrine and truth. _BUT THE SON OF PERDITION_] So we find that Judas, whom all account to have been _lost_, and whose case at best is extremely dubious, was first _given_ by God to Christ? But why was he lost? Because, says St. _Augustin_, he _w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:13. _MY JOY FULFILLED IN THEMSELVES._] John 15:11, John 15:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:14. _I HAVE GIVEN THEM THY WORD_] Or, _thy doctrine _- του λογον σου. In this sense the word λογος is often used by St. John. _AND THE WORLD HATH HATED THEM_] The Jewish rulers, c., have hated them. - Why? Because they received the doctrine of God, the science of salvation, and taught... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:15. _THAT THOU SHOULDEST TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD_] They must not yet leave the land of Judea: they had not as yet borne their testimony there, concerning Christ crucified and risen again from the dead. To take them away before this work was finished would not answer the gracious des... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:17. _SANCTIFY THEM_] αγιασον, from α, _negative_, and γη, _the earth_. This word has _two_ meanings: 1. It signifies to _consecrate_, to _separate_ from _earth_ and _common use_, and to _devote_ or _dedicate_ to God and his service. 2. It signifies to _make holy_ or _pure_. The praye... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:18. _AS THOU HAST SENT ME - SO HAVE I ALSO SENT THEM_] The apostles had the same commission which Christ had, considered as _man _- they were endued with the same Spirit, so that they could not err, and their word was accompanied with the same success.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:19. _I SANCTIFY MYSELF_] I _consecrate_ and _devote_ myself to death-that I may thereby purchase eternal salvation for them. There seems to be here an allusion to the _entering_ of the high priest into the holy of holies, when, having offered the sacrifice, he sprinkled the blood befor... [ Continue Reading ]
III. Our Lord's prayer for his Church, and for all who would believe on his name, through the preaching of the apostles and their successors: John 17:20. John 17:1, John 17:1. Verse John 17:20. _NEITHER PRAY I FOR THESE ALONE_] This prayer extends itself through _all ages_, and takes in _every soul... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:21. _THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE_] This prayer was literally answered to the _first_ believers, who were all of _one heart_ and of _one soul_: Acts 4:32. And why is it that believers are not in the same spirit now? Because they neither attend to the _example_ nor to the _truth_ of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _AND THE GLORY WHICH THOU GAVEST ME I HAVE GIVEN THEM_] That is, the power to work miracles, and to preach unadulterated truth, say some; but as our Lord is not here praying for the _disciples_, but for _all those who should believe on him through_ _their word_, John 17:20, it is more nat... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW_] That the Jewish people first, and secondly the Gentiles, may acknowledge me as the _true Messiah_, and be saved unto life eternal.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _THAT THEY MAY BEHOLD MY GLORY_] That they may _enjoy_ eternal felicity with me in thy kingdom. So the word is used, John 3:3; Matthew 5:8. The design of Christ is, that all who _believe_ should _love_ and _obey, persevere_ unto the end, and be eternally _united_ to himself, and the ever b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:25. _THE WORLD HATH NOT KNOWN THEE_] Has not acknowledged me. See on John 1:11. _AND THESE HAVE KNOWN_] Here our Lord, returning to the disciples, speaks: 1st. Of their having _received him_ as the Messiah; 2dly. Of his _making the Father known_ unto them; 3dly. Of his purpose to _con... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 17:26. _I HAVE DECLARED UNTO THEM THY NAME_, c.] I have taught them the true doctrine. _AND WILL DECLARE IT_] This he did: 1st. By the conversations he had with his disciples _after_ his resurrection, during the space of forty days. 2dly. By the Holy Spirit which was poured out upon th... [ Continue Reading ]