17:1John 17:1

Jesus begins His last prayer with His eleven disciples alone after the final meal and after Judas has left, just before His betrayal, suffering and death and separation from them.Lt 263, 1904, par. 16+2 The hour that has come is His appointed hour of suffering, sacrifice and death on the cross, which is also the hour of His glorification.FE 431.1–3+2 Lifting His eyes to heaven He addresses the Father as a distinct person, asking the Father to glorify the Son so that the Son may glorify the Father.FE 431.1–3+4 That request seeks the Father's glory and not self-exaltation, for He has finished the work given Him on earth and made the Father known, and His joy is that His humiliation and suffering will glorify the Father's name.DA 680.2–4+2 The Father has given Him authority over all people to give eternal life to those given Him, and that eternal life is the personal, experiential knowing of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.RH Jul 19, 1906+3

These words open Jesus' last recorded prayer with His disciples, spoken after the final meal in the upper chamber after Judas had left, when He was alone with the eleven faithful disciples.Ms 39, 1908, par. 1–3+2 It was uttered just before His betrayal and crucifixion, on the eve of His trial and crucifixion and His leaving the disciples to be betrayed, rejected and condemned.Lt 263, 1904, par. 16+3 It stands just before His Gethsemane agony, trial, rejection, condemnation, suffering, death and approaching separation from His disciples.Ms 153, 1899, par. 29–31+1 The prayer is a sermon for everyone and presents matters that lie at the foundation of all true Christian experience, holding important truths profitable to consider, and it prays for His disciples individually in every age and for all who would believe through their word.Ms 153, 1899, par. 29–31+3

The hour that has come is the appointed hour of His suffering and sacrifice and of His suffering and death.FE 431.1–3+2 It is the hour of His offering for sin, redemptive work, death, trial and crucifixion, and the hour of His approaching suffering and death and of His glorification.RH Jul 19, 1906+2 As that appointed hour of suffering and glorification arrived, He asked the Father to glorify Him so that He might glorify the Father.DA 680.2–4+2 His coming glorification would serve the Father's glory, expressing His loving purpose to make eternal life available.FE 431.1–3+1

He spoke these words and lifted up His eyes to heaven to the Father, declaring that the hour had come.Lt 263, 1904, par. 16+2 In so doing He addressed the Father as a distinct person, speaking of the Father glorifying the Son while the Son in turn glorifies the Father.Lt 263, 1904, par. 16+2 Their personal relation is not an impersonal or merely spiritual idea.Ms 124, 1903, par. 15–18 This opening also begins the last prayer of Christ that is given as a pattern for believers to study and to live in a way that answers it.15MR 317.2–3+1

The sacred truths of the prayer were not fully understood or appreciated by the disciples until after the resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit.Lt 117, 1897, par. 2–3+2 It was spoken to His faithful followers alone in the upper chamber, not in the presence of the multitude who could not understand such sacred truths, after Judas withdrew when the oppressive shadow was lifted and the peace of heaven returned to His worn face.ST May 23, 1878+1 The words of comfort, counsel and prayer spoken there the disciples later repeated again and again to strengthen one another and to stay their sinking hearts in disappointment and trial.ST May 23, 1878+1 That testimony has spread from them over all lands to live through all ages to comfort the desponding, and it continues to bring comfort, peace and hope to believers.ST May 23, 1878+1 The instruction was given as evidence of His love to keep them from blindness and ignorance of His purposes and plans and to strengthen them for the trials and temptations ahead.Lt 217, 1903, par. 22

As the appointed hour of suffering, sacrifice, death, trial and crucifixion arrives, Jesus lifts His eyes to heaven to the Father and asks the Father to glorify the Son so that the Son also may glorify the Father.FE 431.1–3+4 The glory of the Son and the glory of the Father are joined together in that request, and the prayer sets forth the relation of Christ to His Father and the life and unity of His people.Ms 85, 1893, par. 45–49+1 The request rests on the Father's gift of authority over all flesh and all people to the Son to give eternal life to as many as the Father has given Him, and eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, which is to be the chief aim of training children and the pattern for instructors to lead students to Christ and the knowledge of God.FE 431.1–3+2 The prayer is to be carefully studied as the prayer uttered just before trial and crucifixion, expressing the loving purpose to make eternal life available.FE 431.1–3+1

The glorification asked for serves the Father's glory and not self-aggrandizement nor wealth or human status for His followers, but spiritual blessing, preservation from sin and loyalty to God.DA 680.2–4+1 Jesus had completed the work given Him on earth, had glorified God and made the Father known, and His coming glorification would serve the Father's glory.DA 680.2–4 He directs honor away from Himself to the Father as the source of His power, and has made the Father's name known so that the Father's love may be in the disciples and He may be in them.PK 69.1 His joy was that all His humiliation and suffering would glorify the Father's name, keeping that great object of His mission ever before Him and directing the disciples' thoughts to it, and the prayer is an educating lesson whose example sets the work of believers to manifest Christ to the world in spirit, speech and actions.Ms 60, 1898, par. 14–18

As He approaches the cross the request concerns the completion of His saving work, for His death would fulfill the everlasting covenant and give repentant believers opportunity for eternal life.Ms 111, 1897, par. 22–26 The words Glorify Thy Son teach that sinful human beings depend wholly on Jesus Christ.Ms 29, 1906, par. 5–6 Only Christ could offer this prayer because the Father appointed Him to give His life for humanity so that people might receive eternal life through His word, and the verse points to the great sacrifice of One who left heaven's courts and royal throne to live and work among people for the fallen race, which must not be treated lightly.Ms 11, 1911, par. 4

The verse shows the authority and honor belonging to the Son, whose honored position and unity with God ground His authoritative speaking, with the Father's glory manifested through the Son and the Son's work in turn glorifying the Father.Ms 156, 1903, par. 1–4 It calls for care not to dishonor Christ or treat lightly the costly work of salvation, but for words and actions to glorify Him.Ms 39, 1908, par. 4 God is glorified in ministers and people when Christ is revealed in their spirit and words and acts through love for one another, which requires hearts emptied of selfishness, the transforming grace of Christ and the Holy Spirit, esteeming others better than self, appreciation, mutual help and strength, and words of hope and cheer that make hearts glad; where accusing, backbiting, criticizing and weakening of hands continue the Lord is not glorified, but where hearts are filled with Christ's love and believers love as He loved, God is glorified.Lt 184, 1902, par. 10–12 Zeal is to be directed not to elevating persons but to the glory of God, and those in responsible positions are to answer the prayer with sanctified zeal rather than harshness that wounds others.Lt 4, 1895, par. 13–15

The Father has given the Son authority and power over all flesh, over all people, to give eternal life to as many as the Father has given Him.RH Jul 19, 1906+4 That gift stands at the foundation of Christian life, with the Father entrusting people to Jesus and Jesus giving them eternal life.RH Jul 19, 1906+2 The request to glorify the Son so the Son may glorify the Father comes as the appointed hour of suffering, sacrifice and glorification arrives.Ms 1, 1897, par. 10+4

Eternal life consists in knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom God sent.RH Jul 19, 1906+4 That teaching about life eternal needs to be known, and the mind is to be put directly upon it in order to know it.Ms 135, 1909, par. 1 Knowing Christ as Saviour must be personal and experiential, each person knowing what Christ is to them and what they are to Christ.Ms 93a, 1899, par. 1–3 This experience comes through the Holy Spirit's work on human hearts, which must be purified and sanctified.Ms 93a, 1899, par. 1–3 Knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ brings spiritual life now and eternal life in God's kingdom, unites believers with Christ, and leaves people responsible for seeking it, so parents should make this knowledge the chief aim of their children's training.RH Jul 19, 1906+1

Jesus declares that He glorified the Father on earth by finishing the work given Him to do.Ms 93a, 1899, par. 1–3+4 He manifested the Father's name to the men the Father gave Him out of the world, who kept the word, knew all things given Him are of the Father, received the words given Him, and knew surely He came out from the Father.Ms 27, 1897, par. 13–15+2 To be described as having kept the Father's word is a glorious commendation and a great honor, yet self too often comes in and strives for mastery.Ms 52, 1904, par. 1–2 He prays for them, not for the world, because they are the Father's.Ms 27, 1897, par. 13–15 He asks now to be glorified with the Father with the glory He had before the world was, to be restored to the glory He shared with the Father before the world existed.Ms 27, 1897, par. 13–15+4 His words are to be studied, received and practiced, and obedience to them shows that a person has received Christ, shaping heart, life and character, and this prayer is for His disciples in every age.Lt 82, 1895, par. 6–8+1

The prayer is full of eternal truth and eternal principles for spiritual life, connecting the glory of the Father and the Son with the gift of eternal life and knowing God and Jesus Christ.Lt 44, 1909, par. 2–6+2 It expresses Christ's loving purpose of mercy to make eternal life available and to place it within reach.FE 431.1–3+1 True higher education is defined as knowing God and Jesus Christ, making students acquainted with God and His word and fitting them for eternal life, for knowledge of God is the power and soul of true education.STE 20.1+2 It gives instructors a pattern to work in harmony with the prayer by leading students to Christ.FE 431.1–3+1 Studying the chapter teaches that higher education and helps believers bring experience into harmony with Christ's prayer, and it reveals advantages Christ purchased for the human race through His sacrifice, including power believers can claim in His name when tempted and tried.Lt 44, 1909, par. 2–6+1

Though the hour of suffering had come, the opening words of the prayer reach beyond the eleven to disciples in every age and to all who would believe through their word, embracing each believer individually as His own children.Ms 153, 1899, par. 29–31+3 It holds open possibilities for faith, giving a higher idea of what a Christian may become as believers strive to answer it.Ms 21, 1892, par. 9+1 Learning to know God by experimental knowledge brings comfort and joy, and requires earnest prayer, ceasing all criticism of others, and coming to Christ in weakness to have everything unlike His character separated away.Ms 179, 1907, par. 20–23

It prays for perfect oneness, that believers be one as Christ is one with the Father, united with one another and with Christ and through Christ one with God.ST Aug 2, 1910+3 That oneness comes when nothing stands between the soul and God or between brethren, when every wrong is put out of the way and sins are confessed and forsaken so the blood of Jesus Christ is efficacious.Ms 52, 1905, par. 5 It is a living union in close relation to Jesus, in which believers are sanctified through the truth and made partakers of the divine nature escaping the corruption in the world through lust.Ms 31, 1906, par. 18–19+1 Christ's love is to replace coldness and hardness and unite the hearts of those who believe the truth, and living this prayer brings Christian fellowship, obedience to truth, and lives that reveal God's grace and Christ's character to the world.ST Aug 2, 1910+2

Christ and the Father are distinct persons though one, united in mind, heart, holiness, justice, and their work to save humanity.RH Jun 1, 1905+2 The oneness asked for disciples is likewise unity with Him that does not erase individual identity or personality.RH Jun 1, 1905+1

That unity is the evidence given to the world that God sent His Son to save sinners, the result of the grace of God upon human hearts, and where this conviction of sin and union exist the light of the glory of God is revealed and the soul hates the sin that separates from God.RH Jun 1, 1905+2 It is to convince the world that Christianity is genuine, giving the world evidence of God's goodness in sending His Son.21MR 442.6–443.1+1 Believers are therefore to work together as a church in accord with this pattern and not break apart into separate groups, because division is not pleasing to God.Lt 114, 1906, par. 3+1 Difference, disunion, and division among believers dishonor God.5MR 49.1

The true work of grace unites believers to Christ and to one another, so that as the Father loves His Son He loves fallen men and women changed from sin to holiness.Ms 31, 1906, par. 18–19+1 It is the privilege of men and women to have this enduring union with Christ, which opens the source of rich and eternal happiness outliving all earthly sinful enjoyment.Ms 31, 1906, par. 18–19+1 When believers become one with their brethren as prayed, God's love and power flow richly into the soul.21MR 48.3–5+1 If that unity is preserved, God will love believers as He loved His Son, the sinner will be saved, and God will be eternally glorified.Lt 31, 1892, par. 29–31+1

The opening words introduce the prayer of the Good Shepherd who makes the interests of fallen humanity His own.STB 386.4–387.1+2 He prays to the Father as a suppliant, seeking fresh supplies of grace.STB 386.4–387.1+2 Strengthened and refreshed by that grace, He goes forth to give His followers assurance and hope.STB 386.4–387.1+2 His prayer is offered on their behalf and for humanity.STB 386.4–387.1+2

It is humanity's petition for humanity, sinless humanity pleading on behalf of sinful humanity.Ms 68, 1903, par. 8+2 He who prays is the Elder Brother, sharing human infirmities and facing temptation without sin.Ms 9, 1906, par. 5–6 The prayer is for His disciples, yet it reaches far and embraces much, calling for constant study and a response from believers.Ms 68, 1903, par. 7

He pours out His heart to the Father for His church with the care and compassion of a consecrated high priest, when He has only a short time left to comfort and instruct His followers before His departure.ST Sep 14, 1882+2 In human nature He embraces humanity and Adam's children, and in divine nature He grasps the throne of God and reaches the throne of the Infinite.ST Sep 14, 1882+3 By this the prayer reaches across earth and heaven, joining earth to heaven and finite people to the infinite God.ST Sep 14, 1882+3

Spoken just before trial and crucifixion as a preface to His coming sacrifice, the prayer points to His continuing intercession in the heavenly sanctuary after completing His sacrifice.Ms 29, 1906, par. 1–4+1 It illustrates the intercession He is making now and will continue to make to the end of the world for those who believe in Him.Lt 368, 1904, par. 9–13+1 Spoken within the hearing of His disciples and full of instruction, showing His desire that all be saved through faith in Him, it serves as a sample of His heavenly intercession for all who receive Him and believe in His name, to the ends of the earth.Ms 38, 1896, par. 2 It is help for His followers in every emergency.Ms 4, 1904, par. 12–14 In that prayer He pleads as a wounded intercessor, presenting His bruised hands bearing the wounds of cruel spikes, on the ground that He has graven His church and the names of all who believe in Him upon the palms of His hands, while ministers over congregations and churches under their care stand in filthy garments and earnestly humble their hearts, fast, and pray for pardon and for the atoning sacrifice to avail through sincere repentance.Lt 208, 1906, par. 34–36

The prayer represents Christ and His church as one: Christ is in His people, and they are united to God the great Head.Ms 51, 1890, par. 29–32+1 The true work of grace in the heart unites believers to Christ and to one another, making them partakers of the divine nature escaping the corruption in the world through lust, one with Christ in God.Ms 31, 1906, par. 18–19 Through union with Christ they are God's chosen children, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, redeemed by the Lamb's blood, loved by the Father as He loved Jesus, changed from sin to holiness, with the privilege of an enduring union that opens the source of rich and eternal happiness outliving all earthly sinful enjoyment.Ms 31, 1906, par. 18–19+1 It calls believers to constantly seek to answer His prayer that His disciples may be one in Him, since being at variance with one another is incompatible with being branches of the True Vine.Ms 20, 1892, par. 57–60 That oneness means being crucified with Christ so that Christ lives in the believer and is formed within by eating the Word of God, which is His flesh and blood.Ms 66, 1897, par. 18–21 As bodily blood must be renewed daily by food, so the Word must be eaten daily, for the knowledge of it is eternal life; its entrance gives light and understanding, it must be meat and drink to renew the spirit of the mind and to grow up into Christ the living Head, nourishing healthful piety and giving the soul nourishment and vitality, so that through obedience the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature, with Christ formed within, the hope of glory, as the branch withers unless fiber by fiber united to the vine and supplied with nourishment, dependence and sufficiency being found only in vital union with Christ.Ms 66, 1897, par. 18–21

The whole prayer from its first verse to its last, together with John 13 through 17, is to be carefully studied, repeated, dwelt upon with intense feeling, committed to memory, taken deeply to heart and practiced.ST Aug 2, 1910+4 It carries special weight in lives and decisions, bears on the life-and-death question of knowing God, presents essential instruction and eternal principles for spiritual life, and gives full matter for setting forth the life of Christ.Ms 135, 1909, par. 1+2 Studying it teaches the higher education of knowing God and brings experience into harmony with Christ's prayer, for its lessons are to guide habits and conduct and its teaching about life eternal needs to be known by putting the mind directly upon it.8T 239.1–2+2

Believers are to live and answer the prayer with the powers of the whole being by wholehearted effort and entire consecration.Ms 143, 1903, par. 1–2+4 Bringing habits, thoughts, words and acts into harmony with it corrects character, prevents one-sided development, frees from self-centeredness and selfishness, and makes them kind, tender, loving and Christlike.Ms 143, 1903, par. 1–2+2 Living it brings Christian fellowship, full joy through Christ as Comforter abiding in the heart, obedience to truth, and lives that reveal God's grace and honor God before the world.5MR 364.4–365.2+2

Living it means ceasing criticism, evil speaking, faultfinding, accusing and backbiting, and instead linking with one another and with Christ.Ms 179, 1907, par. 20–23+3 It means confessing and forsaking sins and wrongs, humbling the heart, removing faults from one's own life and everything unlike Christ's character, praying for union and living so God can answer, with nothing between the soul and God or between brethren.Ms 179, 1907, par. 20–23+2 It means encouraging the heavy laden rather than discouraging them, esteeming others better than self, helping and strengthening one another, showing appreciation, and speaking words of hope and cheer that make hearts glad.Ms 179, 1907, par. 20–23+2

Obedience is to begin in the home and shape church life, for God measures church members by what they are in the home.RH Jul 21, 1903+2 When Christ's words are obeyed there, dissension is removed, children are brought to Christ by parents changed by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit is not grieved, the works of Christ are done, and good works shine as a bright lamp so others glorify the Father.RH Jul 21, 1903+2 Ministers are to present its words in every home as God's message about receiving grace and meeting His conditions, dwell with earnestness on sacred testing truths beautiful in their simplicity on which there is united clear light, and confine public efforts to important truth including the binding claims of God's law and city work rather than making the daily of Daniel 8 or other controversy-arousing subjects a test or prominent point.Lt 62, 1910, par. 1–3+1 John 13-17 plainly outlines genuine missionary work, requiring reconversion of ministers in word and doctrine, believing every verse and living them out before fellow ministers.18MR 168.1–169.1

Those who believe and practice God's Word, keep His Word, walk obediently and humbly, and cling to Christ answer Christ's prayer and enter into the plan of redemption.Lt 311, 1905, par. 8+2 Living it in practical life brings unity with one another and with Christ, victory over sin through rejecting sinful appetites and passions, strength against Satan's attacks, steadfastness in the shaking time, purification and fitness for heaven, forgiveness, keeping unspotted from the world, and entrance with Christ into the city and the everlasting kingdom.RH Apr 30, 1901+2 Refusing His conditions and refusing to hear and obey leaves one unable to bear the test and unworthy to belong to His people when He comes in glory.Lt 61, 1898, par. 11+1

The prayer teaches how to pray and how to come into right relation with God, and preached with much of the Holy Spirit it calls hearers to seek the Lord more earnestly with whole sacrifice, confession of sins with brokenness and weeping, and precious seasons of prayer.Ms 45, 1890, par. 16+1 It holds the day of visitation and advantages God bestowed which Satan understands better than church members and works to hide by stirring discord over little misunderstandings.Ms 51, 1912, par. 1–2 It sends believers into the world on Christ's mission to carry light beyond home and church to the whole world without belonging to the world, kept from evil and made holy through truth, with Christ's presence within as hope of glory, pleading for grace to follow His example and continue the work He began.Ms 2, 1891, par. 8–9+2

It is an educating lesson and sermon for everyone, presenting matters at the foundation of all true Christian experience, preparing disciples for future work and trial, and showing what God desires to do for the human race and what the church may become and must carry forward.Ms 119, 1906, par. 1–4+3 It presents the plan of redemption and Christ's mercy ready for the obedient, directs to worship Jesus as Life-giver rather than trust humans, and teaches to build ministry on Christ and rely on divine power.RH Nov 4, 1902+1 Its unity joins ministry and medical missionary work as one work, so that separation between them shows the Holy Spirit is not working upon hearts.5MR 133.1

The church is to make this prayer its creed and pattern for action, to accord with it and not divide, for difference, disunion and division dishonor God and are not pleasing to Him.5MR 49.1+1 Unity is God's standard to be believed, practiced and reached by taking out every thread of selfishness, giving no glory to man, seeking no one's own glory, exercising no human kingly power, and ceasing all dissension and strife, so the world sees the excellence of the truth.17MR 291.2–3+1 No one is called to walk alone and no different path is assigned, for the only hope of reaching heaven is to be one with Christ and through Him one with another; spiritual gifts are Heaven's appointed means to secure that unity of the faith for perfecting the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for edifying the body of Christ.17MR 291.2–3+2