John 17

Notes

Ver. 1-3. O Father, the time fixed in thy eternal love for completing my course of obedience on earth is now come! Own and support me as thy Son, under my sufferings, that, in finishing all righteousness, triumphing over sin, Satan, and death, and in ascending to heaven, I may manifest and spread the honour of all thy compassion in the world; that in the exercise of that mediatorial authority over all mankind which thou hast allotted me as the reward of my obedience, I may freely and graciously bestow the great blessing of eternal life upon all those who come unto me and accept me as their Savior and abide in me. And the way to, the beginning, earnest, and evidence of right to, this eternal life, and even the complete enjoyment of it, is by an approving and fiducial knowledge of thee as the only true and faithful God, in opposition to all idols; and of me as the anointed Saviour and the only Mediator, in opposition to all others. 4, 5. As I have invariably intended and manifested thy glory in the whole of my doctrine, miracles, and practice, and am just ready, without fail, to honour all thy perfections by my death, which will complete that work of the work of redemption which was intrusted to me, do thou therefore, according to thy affection to me, advance my incarnate person to the highest glory at thy right hand, where I may appear in my human nature and mediatorial office like myself, and shine forth in that divine majesty which I had with thee from eternity, but which has been obscured in my humble state on earth. 6-8. As for those true believers who through faith have accepted me as the Savior of the world and have determined to walk in me as they received me, I have begun to give them a spiritual understanding of thine excellencies, mind, and will, and of my relation to thee and commission from thee; and they, under my powerful influence on their hearts, have embraced and adhered to thy truths which I taught them; and by my instructions have been made to know and believe that all things which I, as Mediator, have undertaken, taught, performed, or suffered, are by thy love and blessed, and the fruits of thy infinite wisdom and sovereign grace. 9, 10. I therefore affectionately recommend to thy care, these my disciples and those who through their ministry accept me as the Redeemer of the world as the members of my mystical body, to be redeemed and saved by me, that thou mayest perfect everything which concerns them. And as thy right in them is so inseparably and entirely the same with mine, I pray that thou wouldest perform in them all the good pleasure of thy goodness, that I, together with thee, may be glorified in their redemption and blessedness, and in their faith, love, worship, obedience, and eternal salvation. 11-13. And now the time is come that I must die a sacrifice for all sin, and afterwards be but little with men in this world, to instruct, defend, and comfort them; yet these my apostles, as well as my other disciples, must for a time remain in it, compassed about with many infirmities, temptations, and dangers.—And as I am coming to appear in thy presence for them, I beseech thee, by thy mighty power and infinite wisdom, and for thine own name's sake, to preserve them steadfast in their faith and holy profession, that, as my witnesses and chief ministers, they may be entirely united in heart and affection, testimony, interest, and designs, as we are in ours.—While I have been personally conversant with them, I have, according to thy commission, by my doctrine, example, and powerful influences, so confirmed and preserved them from apostasy, that not one of them has miscarried, except the perfidious Judas, who, by forsaking and betraying me, is just now bringing inevitable ruin upon his own head, agreeably to the ancient predictions concerning him. But now, as I am coming to be glorified at thy right hand in heaven, leaving them without the benefit of my company to guide, protect, and comfort them, I thus supplicate thee in their hearing, that they may rejoice in hope of thy preserving, teaching, and comforting Spirit, and that their joy may be more abundant than ever it was in my personal presence. 14, 15. I have given them a spritual understanding of, and commission to preach, thy gospel; and carnal and unbelieving men are filled with enmity, rage, and violence against them, because their principles, tempers, doctrines, and views, as well as mine, are utterly disagreeable to their carnal lusts, sentiments, and interests. However, I do not plead that thou, to deliver them from their troubles, shouldest deprive this world of their holy example and useful ministrations; but that thou wouldest preserve them from the temptations of Satan and their own remaining corruptions, and support them under, sanctify to them, and carry them through, all the persecutions which they may meet with before they have finished their work. 16-19. They are already of such a religious temper and disposition, and engaged in such excellent work, as is directly contrary to the inclinations of carnal men, even as I myself have been before them. Let this holy temper and practice be maintained and increased in them by means of thy Word; and by the anointing of thy Spirit, let them be consecrated to serve thee in propagating gospel truth. For as thou hast sent me into the world with a commission to preach thy important and infallible truths to mankind, I have authorized them to carry on the same work, wherever Providence may cast their lot, after my departure from them. And for this, as one great reason, have I devoted myself to the mediatorial office, and am going to consecrate myself by suffering and death, that they, through the truth, may, by the Holy Ghost, be consecrated to, fitted for, supported, and succeeded in preaching it. 20, 21. Nor do I only pray for such preserving, supporting, sanctifying, and comforting influences to my apostles, but to all who, in this and the following ages, shall be brought to a saving faith in me, by means of their publication of the gospel—that the whole number of believers, in all generations, may be joined together as one body, in faith and love, worship and obedience, by one spirit, in as near a resemblance as possible to that union which we have by our mutual inbeing; and that, in their measure, they may be united to us; that others, beholding the powerful effects of the gospel on them, may be induced to believe in me as the promised Messiah. 22, 23. And in pursuit of this great design, I have given them an interest and subordinate partnership in that glory which thou hast given me, as their Head, Representative, and Trustee; that, as members of my mystical body, and joint heirs of God with me, and partakers of my Spirit, they may be united in the most close, honourable, and beneficial manner. In order to which I will dwell in them by my Spirit, according to their measure, as thou dwellest in me by him without measure, that they, being joined to me, may attain to the most perfect union they are capable of, in one spiritual body, under me as their Head—that by means hereof multitudes of both Jews and Gentiles may clearly and satisfactorily perceive and believe that I am the Christ whom thou hast sent into the world for the redemption of men; and that thou hast a peculiar, affectionate, and delightful love to them for my sake, some way resembling that supreme love which thou bearest to me as thine eternal Son and their Mediator. 24. And I further claim that, according to my sacrifice and suffering, all those whom thou hast called to receive eternal life be given the opportunity of repentance and acceptance of heaven, where I already am in my divine nature, and for ever shall be in my entire person, that there they may have an appropriating, blissful, and transforming vision of that glory which thou hast bestowed on me as their Head and Representative, because from all eternity thou hadst an infinite delight in me, as thy Son and their Savior, who sought to glorify thee in their salvation. 25, 26. All these things do I ask from thee, not only as thou infinitely hatest all impurity, and lovest me and them for my sake, but as thou art a righteous and faithful Father, ready to give men whatever I have secured for them. As for the unregenerate worldlings, they are ignorant of and reject thee and thy counsels; but I am thoroughly acquainted with thy nature, perfections, and will; and these my apostles have known and received me as the true Messiah whom thou has sent for the salvation of Israel.—And as, according to my commission, I have fully declared to them whatever was proper, and have savingly enlightened them in the knowledge of thyself, I will, after my resurrection, by personal visits, and after my ascension by the effusion of my Spirit, more clearly and fully acquaint them with thy glorious perfections and will, that the infinite love with which thou hast from eternity loved me may extend to and manifest itself in men, and that I may dwell in their hearts by faith till they arrive at that perfection of eternal blessedness which, in thy distinguishing love, thou hast prepared for all and for all who receive me by faith.

Ver. 1. It is recorded of our Lord that he continued all night in prayer, but this is the longest of his prayers of which the Spirit has left any verbal record. C.

Ver. 3. The only true God. This, like ch. 14. 28, has been a special stronghold of all who deny the supreme deity of the Son of God; yet requires merely the application of one Scripture rule, the 'comparing of spiritual things with spiritual,' 1 Co. 2. 3, to show itself in perfect accordance with that essential doctrine. (1) Then, be it remembered, that our Lord teaches us to say, 'Our Father who art in heaven.' (2) That the gods of the nations are idols—false gods—always on earth—never in heaven. (3) That 'The Word was God,' Jn. 1. 1, 'and dwelt among us.' (4) That, as such, he is called 'the true God,' 1 Jn. 5. 20. Wherefore, the Father is called 'the only true God'—God in heaven—not in opposition to Jesus Christ, who is 'the true God'—'God manifest in the flesh,' dwelling among us on earth; but the Father is so called in opposition to idols, which are vanity and a lie. C.

Ver. 4. I have finished the work. The work of instruction, of miracles, of witness-bearing—the work of contending with Satan and his auxiliaries—and now I am about to enter upon the sufferings I have been appointed to underlie. C.

Ver. 9. I pray not for the world. When Christ prays he is certainly heard, Jn. 11. 42. But he prays not at this time, for the impenitent world, his whole mind at this time was upon his disciples. C.

Ver. 12. None of them is lost, &c. None that were given are lost; but 'the son of perdition' is lost, 'that the scripture might be fulfilled.' Not as if Judas were lost that the prophecy might become true, but the prophecy is verified in the fact of his treason. C.

Ver. 13. My joy. The joy derivable from me.—Fulfilled. By the presence of the Holy Spirit—one form of whose precious fruit is joy in the birth, doctrine, death, resurrection, kingdom, and victories of Christ, Lu. 2. 10; Ga. 5. 22; Re. 12. 12. C.

Ver. 19. Sanctify myself. Separate myself from the world, and dedicate myself utterly to the service of my Father. C.

Ver. 21. How is it that 'the world,' out of which the disciples were taken (ver. 6), for whom Christ Jesus did not pray (ver. 9), that hated his disciples (ver. 14), and with which our Lord and his apostles had nothing spiritually in common (ver. 16), is here said to 'believe' that the Father had sent him? Some solve the difficulty by taking the word 'world' in two senses, viz. the one an unbelieving, and the other a believing world. But how strange must it appear if the same word be taken thrice in one sense, and immediately after twice in a sense the very opposite! Surely there is no necessity for this arbitrary and violent transmutation! Believing, when alone, is no mark of a change of heart, Ja. 2. 17. The 'devils believe and tremble,' Ja. 2. 19. Even so the time is coming when 'the world' that hated both Christ and his disciples shall both believe and know that the Father sent the Son (ver. 23), even as multitudes of Mahometans and professing Christians both 'believe and know' that he was sent; yet the one part prefer to him the 'false prophet,' and the other 'hold the truth in unrighteousness.' C.

Reflections.—It is necessary to conclude important advices, and prepare for impending temptations, by fervent and solemn prayer, and with heart and eyes lifted up unto God. In what a dignified manner Jesus intercedes for all men, particularly his ministers, upon the footing of his own finished righteousness, and his Father's perfections manifested and promises ratified thereby! It is impossible for those to fall short of grace or glory who are interested in such prayers, which so closely connect the glory of God and the good of men.—Marvellous is his exaltation and his saving power! And thrice happy are they who have the saving knowledge of him as the only Mediator, and of his Father in him. His glorification of his Father's perfections, by fulfilling all righteousness in our stead, wonderfully secures eternal glories to himself, and conversion, deliverance, and everlasting happiness to all faithful members. And by our holding fast his doctrine, by our holiness in heart and life, and giving him the glory of all that we are and do, he marks our relation to him as his true children.—Great is the mercy that all our spiritual knowledge, faith, holiness, and eternal happiness are secured in and by him; and that though he be no more in this world, his Word and Spirit are left to supply his room. This polluting and insnaring world is the greatest enemy to his saints. But while multitudes of professors, and even noted preachers, are eternally ruined by its influence, Christ's prayers, the directions of his Word, and the influences of his Spirit, will carry all who are faithful safely, and even comfortably and honourably, through it. If we be not carnally disposed, we shall quickly get to heaven, out of the reach of carnal men. For if Jesus devoted himself to sufferings for us, he will advance us to glory with him. Whatever good work he once begins will not fail on his account; and if his ministers need to be eminently holy, steadfast, and faithful, he offers up particular prayers in their behalf; and if he send ministers, he will make their labours powerful for increasing, uniting, and edifying his mystical body the church. Let carnal men deride it now as they will, they shall be made to know that Christ and his people are one in law, spirit, temper, and design. And while the wicked are ruined by their sins, the good shall be admitted into the most immediate vision of and fellowship with him, in his glory and in his Father's love.