John 17:1

"John."

Key Reflection

In the opening of Jesus' high-priority prayer in John 17, he addresses his Father, signaling the importance and divine nature of what follows. This intimate communication between Christ and God the Father would have resonated deeply with first-century Jewish listeners, who were familiar with the concept of a personal relationship between a faithful servant and their deity. The context sets the stage for Jesus' profound intercession on behalf of his disciples, highlighting themes of glory, unity, and eternal life that would later shape Christian theology.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 1. These words. The words addressed to them in the preceding chapters. They were proceeding to the garden of Gethsemane. It adds much to the interest of this prayer that it was offered in the stillness of the night, in the open air, and in the peculiarly tender circumstances in which Jesus and his apostles were. It is the longest prayer recorded in the New Testament. It was offered on the most tender and solemn occasion that has ever occurred in our world, and it is perhaps the most sublime composition to be found anywhere. Jesus was about to die.

Related Verses

More from John 17

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