This really is like Benedictory prayer in the life of Jesus and his disciples.  It occurs just before they leave the upper room for the Mount of Olives.   The Passover meal is completed; Jesus has washed the disciples’ feet and instructed them in Christian humility and service in response to their arguments as to who should be the greatest.   He has completed several discourses of instruction and encouragement that are recorded in John 14 through 16. Now he summarizes all that he’s been saying over the last week and more integrate intercessory prayer.  As he would soon state, his work is now finished, all except for its climactic ending. He has worn them of dangers to calm; he has bestowed upon them a legacy of peace; now it is time to pray.

What is the teaching setting in his ministry to the disciples?   Review Jesus’ purposes in the previous discourses (14:23; 15:11; 16:1, 33).

In three passages Jesus specifically talks about the purposes of his discourses.  In chapter 15 verse 11, he speaks about the fact that his speaking is for the purpose of his disciples having joy. In chapter 16 verse one he reminds him that he is teaching them in order that they would not go astray. In chapter 16 verse 33 he is encouraging them by reminding them that he wants them to have peace and to take heart for he has overcome the world. In addition to these, in chapter 14 verse 23 it is clear that one of the purposes on Jesus mind in these discourses is that they might be obedient disciples, obedient to his teaching.   As we remember the circumstances in the upper room and see these purposes, we can understand Jesus mind as he goes to prayer.

In what ways have the teachings that preceded the prayer reflected Jesus’ conviction that “The hour has come” (12:23-26, 32; 13:33; 14:2, 12, 18,  28; 16:5-7, 28)?

In chapter 12 verse 24 Jesus talks about the kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies. It is clear that his upcoming death is on his mind as he goes I’m in verse 32 to talk about the Son of Man being lifted up.  In chapter 13 verse 33 Jesus is very blunt and says, “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. He will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: where I am going you cannot come.”   Obviously, he senses that his time is short and he is trying to warn them.  In chapter 14 he talks about going to prepare a place for them. In verse 12 says, “I am going to the Father.”    He repeats this truth in verse 28 of chapter 14.  In chapter 16 he talks about the grief that the disciples will feel when he goes away and about the coming of the Holy Spirit. Again it is obvious that he senses his time is short. In verse 28 he says directly, “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

What do you observe in verse one and throughout the prayer about the way that Jesus addresses God?   Comparing other places where Jesus used this title (Matthew 6:9, 32; 7:9-11; Luke 12:32),  what feelings does Jesus want us to have as we use that title?

Jesus uses the title “Father” in this prayer just as he taught us to do in the prayer we commonly call The Lord’s Prayer.    In fact, Jesus uses the title six times in this prayer, four times simply and two times in combination with adjectives.   Looking at Jesus teachings about the Father; in Matthew 6:32, Jesus reminded us that the Father knows what we need.   This helps us to go to the Father in confidence that he understands.    Jesus teaching in Matthew seven about fish and bread is designed to remind us of the Old Testament teaching that God is good.  He does not give bad gifts; he even more than human parents, desires to give wholesome gifts to his children.   This again gives us the confidence as we pray that we can rely on the wisdom of God in answering our prayers.   The short sentence in Luke chapter 12:32 is a great promise.   It teaches us that God is a giving God and desires to give to his children in Christ.   As part of his kingdom, he wants to empower us.  This is the context of Jesus high priestly prayer, as John 17 is often known.

What seems to be in Jesus’ mind as he uses the word glorify?    Compare John 12:16, 23, 24, 28, 41; 13:31, 32; 15:8.

In chapter 12 beginning in verse 23, Jesus talks about the Son of Man being glorified and then goes on to teach about the kernel of wheat that falls under the ground and dies. It is as the kernel of wheat is sewn into the ground at it is able to produce many seeds this is a lesson for the disciples but it is also a foreshadowing of what is soon to happen in Jesus life.  In light of all of the Scriptures we can see that Jesus is connecting the word glorified with his coming death.  

In following this passage with Jesus for her in John 12:28 that his father would glorify the father’s name, again the coming death of Jesus and the idea of glorifying are connected.   The voice from heaven affirms that God will receive glory through the death of his son.  In verse 41 it speaks of Isaiah seeing Jesus glory; yet Isaiah saw the suffering of Christ as the first of the Isaiah verses quoted is from chapter 53.  

In chapter 13:31, 32 the passage is very parallel to Jesus words in the high priestly prayer. “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him if God is glorified in him, God will glorify the son in himself, and will glorify him at once.”   Jesus spoke this just after Judas had left the room. He followed this statement with, “My children I will be with you only a little longer.”   Together it makes it hard to avoid the conclusion that the glorification has to do with his death and resurrection.   And it appears that Jesus is thinking primarily of his death in these passages.   This agrees with the reason Hebrews says he is honored.  Heb 2:9  “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” 

In asking ourselves why we should use this word with regard to his death, the clue we need may be found in John 15 eight where Jesus speaks of ice and says, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”   How did Jesus bear much fruit?  The kernel was to fall into the ground and die.  Then it would bear much fruit as the wheat does.   How are we to bear much fruit?    “If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Mk 8:34).”   Jesus bore much fruit by dying and bringing many to himself and thus to his Father.  We bear much fruit by dying to ourselves and bringing many to Jesus and to his Father.  Thus, in the dying of Jesus, and in our dying to self, God is glorified.

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