John 17 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 30, Thursday evening before Jesus's execution
Location
Jerusalem, likely in or near the upper room after the Last Supper
Audience
The eleven remaining disciples (Judas had already left to betray Jesus)
Situation
This is Jesus's final prayer before his arrest and execution—sometimes called the "High Priestly Prayer." After teaching his disciples extensively (chapters 13-16), Jesus now prays aloud in their presence. Within hours, he will be arrested, tried, and executed. This prayer reveals Jesus's heart as he faces death: his concern is not for himself but for his followers—both those present and all future believers.
Key Background
In John's Gospel, Jesus has been revealing his identity as the divine Son sent by the Father. "Glory" (showing true greatness) is a major theme—Jesus came to reveal the Father's glory and will soon be glorified through his death and resurrection. The prayer emphasizes the unity between Father and Son as the model for unity among believers. Jesus uses the language of "sending"—just as the Father sent him into the world, he's now sending his followers into the world with the same mission.
After Jesus said all this, he up the and said, "Father, the has who is, so that can who you are.
You gave him over every person alive, so that he could give to everyone you've handed over to him.
And this is what limitless life actually means: you — the only true God — and Jesus, the you
I on who you are by the you gave me to do.
So now, Father, the who I am — right there at your side — the way it was the when we shared that same together.
I've you to the people you picked out of the world and gave to me. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they've on to what you
Now they that everything you've given me actually comes from you.
Because I gave them the you gave me, and they actually received it. They know — really know — that I came from you, and they that you're the one who sent me.
I'm for them. I'm not for the right now — I'm for the ones you've given me, because they belong to you.
Everything that's mine is yours, and everything that's yours is mine — and who I am has been through them.
I'm not going to be in the world much longer, but they're staying in the world while I'm coming to you. other — protect them by the power of the you gave me, so that they can be the way we are
While I was with them, I them and them by the power of your name — the name you gave me. Not of them was lost, except the who was for so that the would come true.
But now I'm coming to you, and I'm saying all this while I'm still in the world so that they can have the full measure of my inside them.
I've given them and the has hated them because they don't belong to the — just like I don't belong to the
I'm not asking you to take them out of the world — I'm asking you to protect them from the
They to the world, just like I to the world.
them by the Your message is the
I'm them into the world the same way you sent me into the world.
And I'm for their sake, so that they can also be by the truth.
And I'm not just praying for these ones here — I'm also praying for everyone who will ever in me because of their
I'm praying that all of them will be — just like you, Father, are in me and I am in you — that they will also be in us, so that the will that you sent me.
I've given them the same you gave me, so that they can be one the way we are one —
I in them and you in me — so that they can reach and then the world will know that you sent me and that you have them just as as me.
Father, I the ones you've given me to be with me right where I am, so they can see my — the you gave me because you loved me the of the
Just — the world doesn't you, but I you, and these ones here that you sent me.
I've you to them, and I will on you — so that the you have for me will be in them, and I will be in them too.