RSV ~ John 17 Notes

Jn 17:1-26 | ISB Notes

The high priestly prayer of Jesus, who turns attention from his disciples (chaps. 13-16) to his heavenly Father (chap. 17). The prayer has three parts: Jesus offers up his approaching sacrifice to the Father (17:1-5), pleads for the preservation of his disciples (17:6-19), and prays for the unity of the universal Church (17:20-26). This is the longest extended prayer recorded in the Gospels (CCC 2746-51).

Jn 17:1 | ISB Notes

lifted up his eyes: A traditional prayer gesture (Ps 123:1; Mk 6:41).

the hour: The time of Christ’s Passion begins in earnest. Because it involves his rejection and the aggressive assault of the devil, it is also called the hour of “darkness” (Lk 22:53).

See topical essay: The “Hour” of Jesus at Jn 4.

Jn 17:3 | ISB Notes

eternal life: To possess life is to know the living God in his triune glory. Although this knowledge has a cognitive and intellectual dimension, it also includes a relational bond of love, friendship, and communion with God that grows steadily until our union with him is complete in heaven (Eph 1:17; 1 Jn 4:7).

• Personal knowledge of God is a sign of the New Covenant, according to Jer 31:33-34.

the only true God: The NT doctrine that God is a Trinity is built on the OT doctrine that Yahweh alone is God (Deut 6:4; 32:39). This ancient belief, held dear both in Israel and in the Church, stands in sharp contrast to the pagan notion that many gods exist and deserve our recognition (Ex 20:3-6; Is 43:10; 1 Cor 8:5-6).

Jn 17:6 | ISB Notes

manifested your name: Possibly the divine name “I am”, which is shared by Jesus (8:58; 18:6). Or, too, it may refer to the general revelation of the Father’s life and love through the Incarnation (14:6-11) (CCC 2812). See note on Jn 6:20.

Jn 17:11 | ISB Notes

as we are one: The family unity of the apostles is to reflect the family oneness of the Divine Persons in the Trinity (10:30).

Jn 17:12 | ISB Notes

the son of perdition: Judas Iscariot, whose betrayal of the Messiah was foretold in passages such as Ps 41:9 (13:18) and Ps 69:25 (Acts 1:20). See note on Mt 26:56.

Jn 17:14 | ISB Notes

not of the world: The disciples remain in the world after Jesus returns to the Father, but they are not of the world, because they are not allied with the godless forces that fight against the kingdom of God (15:18-24). See note on Jn 1:10.

Jn 17:15 | ISB Notes

from the evil one: The prayer of Jesus becomes our prayer every time we utter the Our Father (Mt 6:13; CCC 285054).

Jn 17:17 | ISB Notes

Sanctify them: To “sanctify” means to consecrate for a holy purpose, which here concerns the spread and preservation of divine truth. The task of the apostles is to speak the word of the Lord both orally (1 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:25) and in writing (2 Thess 2:15; 1 Tim 3:14-15).

• Similar language is used in the OT for the consecration and ordination of Aaronic priests (Ex 29:1; 40:12-13). Here the disciples are set apart for “the priestly service of the gospel” (Rom 15:16) (CCC 611).

Jn 17:18 | ISB Notes

so I have sent them: The mission of Christ becomes the mission of the Church once he returns to the Father. Although cooperation in this work is incumbent upon all baptized believers (CCC 1268-70), the apostles are sent forth in a special way for the ministry of preaching the word and sanctifying the world. This missionary mandate continues to be fulfilled by the bishops, who are the ordained successors to apostles (1 Tim 4:13-16; 2 Tim 2:1-2) (CCC 858-62).

Jn 17:20 | ISB Notes

those who believe: Jesus’ prayer reaches into the future to bless believers of every age (20:29).

Jn 17:23 | ISB Notes

that the world may know: Envisions unity that is not only spiritual, but also visible and organizational, so that even the world can see it clearly (Eph 4:4-13). The indivisible unity of the Trinity is the source and pattern of this ecclesial oneness (17:11, 21-22). .

Jn 17:24 | ISB Notes

may be with me: A prayer for the salvation of believers (14:2-3).