January 18, 2026

UNIT 1: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

LESSON: 7

Study Text: John 17:1-26

Central Truth: Jesus prayed that we would be one with Him as he is one with the Father.

KEY Verse-John 17:11 Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be on, we are (KJV).

"Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are" (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

In his epic novel The Brothers Karamazov, Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote, "Every time you pray, if your prayer is sincere, there will be new feeling and new meaning in it, which will give you fresh courage, and you will understand that prayer is an education."

DISCUSSION STARTER-Prayer Is an Education

What is the most powerful or memorable lesson you ever learned by praying or hearing someone else pray?

John 17 records a powerful prayer of Jesus at the end of the Passover gathering, often called the "High Priestly Prayer." By reading His Priestly Prayer." By reading His words,

Jesus at the end of the Passover gathering, often called the "High Priestly Prayer." By reading His words, we enter a sacred place of prayer with Jesus, learning a great deal about what matters most to Him. One of the lessons we learn is that Jesus is perfectly unified with the Father and wants His followers to be unified as well, so that God will be glorified.

PART 1-That We Would Believe in Jesus

The Way to Eternal Life              John 17:1-5

Throughout John's Gospel, both the author and Jesus have frequently mentioned His "hour" (2:4; 7:30; 12:23; 13:1), and now "the hour has come" (17:1). At this critical moment, Jesus prayed. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke include Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, John includes a more detail account of Jesus' prayer from the e gathering. This is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. Before praying for His disciples and the world (verses 6-26), Jesus prayed to be glorified. Jesus knew that "[taking] away the sin of the world" (1:29). meant the agony and shame of the crucifixion. But this was how He, in turn, brought glory to His Father (17:1). Jesus made it clear that the key to eternal life is "to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth: (verse 3). Jesus brought glory to God--and was glorified by God--when He completed the work He had been given. Jesus was with God in the beginning (1:1-2), and by walking the path of crucifixion and exaltation, Jesus would be restored to the full glory He shared with the Father from all eternity (17:5).

? What can we learn about praying for ourselves from the way Jesus prays for himself in this prayer?

Belonging to Jesus and the Father           John 17:6-10

Jesus revealed God to His followers (John 17:6; 1:18). The mutuality and unity of Father and Son are evident in this passage. Jesus had already told His disciples their task would prove dangerous (16:1-3), so it would be critical for them to remember they belong to God. They had responded in various positive ways: they have "have kept your word," (verse 6), "accepted" the message, "know" that Jesus came from the Father, and "believe you sent me" (verse8). These responses set them apart from the many who rejected Jesus and His message (1:10-11). "To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn--not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God" (verses 12-13). It is for these disciples, the children of God, that Jesus prayed here (17:9). He would pray for the world later. We modern-day disciples are part of the "all" Jesus mentions in verse 10. Just as Jesus brought glory to the Father by completing His work (verse 5), so His own disciples--both then and now--bring Him glory through their obedience.

? How does it feel when someone prays aloud for you? How might Jesus' disciples have been affected by Jesus' prayer for them?

PART 2-That We Would Be Sanctified

Not of the world           John 17:11-14

Jesus had talked at length with His disciples about His departure in John chapters 13 to 16. They had asked questions, but were unable to take it all in. Now Jesus, knowing firsthand what they would face in the world, interceded for them. His two main requests were for protection and unity. Protect them by the power of your name" (17:11). Jesus primarily prayed for the disciples to have spiritual protection that would keep them faithful to His name, not necessarily physical protection from harm."  Judas was already unfaithful.  Jesus list Judas Iscariot as the only disciple who was lost--not because Jesus failed to protect him, but because he was headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold" (verse 12). Judas was already unfaithful. Jesus was about to return to the Father (verse 14). They desperately needed spiritual protection. (2) "So that they will be united just as we are" (17:11). Unity in the Spirit demonstrates God's protective power and sanctifying work in our lives. It provides a strong witness to the world when our relationships reflect the unity of the Father and the Son. If those who watch Christians today cannot see a difference in the quality of our love and unity, our witness has fallen tragically short.

? Jesus did not primarily pray for the physical protection of His disciples. How should we pray for fellow believers in light of this?

Sanctified by Truth            John 17:15-19

In Jesus' time, there were groups in Judea who protested the way the temple was being run and withdrew from popular Judaism to remain holy. Sometimes that included leaving the cities to create new, isolated communities. But Jesus does not call for this kind of reaction. In fact, Jesus sent His disciples into the world, just as the Father had sent Him (John 17:18). God is the definition of holiness. The Holy Father" *verse 11) had set Jesus apart as holy and sent Him into the world (10:36). Here Jesus, in perfect unity with His Father, prayed that His disciples would also be sanctified by God's truth as He sent them into the world (verse 18). In verse 17, Jesus pointed to God's Word as the source of truth and a means of sanctification--which means being consecrated and set apart as holy. We desperately need to be immersed in God's Word to stay safe from the evil one!

? Why is holiness critical for the mission of the Church?

PART 3-That We Would Be Unified

Perfect Unity           John 17:20-23

Those of us who follow Jesus today came to believe in Him through the gospel witness of His earliest disciples, like John, and those who have passed the message down through the generations. Starting with John 17:20 and continuing for the rest of the chapter, Jesus prayed for these followers throughout the ages. Just as Father and Son are one, Jesus prayed for His  disciples to be one (verse 21). Our model for Christian unity is the Trinity--the ultimate example of harmony and love. Jesus had already taught His disciples about the Holy Spirit's role among them (14:16-17; 16:13-15). The missional purpose of this godly unity being displayed among Christians is for the world to believe that Jesus is truly the Son of God (17:21). Jesus had given His disciples the glory given to Him by the Father (verse 22). This was a key feature of Jesus' work: to reveal God's glory.

? Since we were created to reflect God's glory through Christian unity, how should we have passed prioritize peacemaking in our churches and our families?

With Jesus for Eternity             JOHN 17:23-26

Jesus intends that His disciples 'perfect unity will show the world two mind-blowing realities (John 17:23). First, the unity of Jesus' followers proves to the world that the Father truly sent Him: a mind-blowing responsibility. Second, Christian unity exists because the Father loves us as much as He loves His perfect, one-of-a-kind Son: a mind-blowing privilege. Then Jesus turned to the distant future, praying that His followers would "be with me where I am" (verse 24). The world does not know God (verse 25). which is why it is so important for Jesus' followers to reflect His  glory through their unity. Jesus said He had revealed God to His disciples and would continue to do so (verse 26). What amazing love  Jesus  would demostrate over the next several hours, as "having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end" (13:1).

? What are some ways Jesus continues to reveal the Father to His followers?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US?

We should pray for ourselves like Jesus, deeply and passionately desiring to glorify the Father with our faithful obedience. We should also pray for our Christian brothers and sisters, that our holiness and unity would bear a saving witness to the world. May we drink freely and frequently from the wellspring of God's truth, asking Him to protect us from the evil one and equip us for spiritual battle. k Let us allow the priorities in Jesus' prayer to shape our own prayers, our daily choices, and our plans for the future.

LIVING IT OUT

Be intentional about modeling your prayers this week after Jesus' prayer in John 17.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

           Monday: Jacob wrestles with God.  Genesis 32:22-30

      Tuesday: God hears Our Prayers.  Psalm 116:1-7

                              Wednesday: Divine Friendship and Commitment.  Isaiah 41:8-10

      Thursday: Jesus Prayer for Peter. Philippians 2:3-8

    Friday: Have the Mind of Christ. Philippians 2:3-8

  Saturday: Our High Priest. Hebrews 4:14-16

RADIANT LIFE

Volume 107 Number 2 Dec. Jan. Feb 2025-26

Gospel Publishing House

1445 N. Boonville Ave.

Springfield, Missouri 65802