INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
JESUS PRAYS FOR US
Passage: John 17:20~26  
Key verse: 21
Jesus Prays for All Believers20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one,(A) Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.(B) May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.(C) 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me,(D) that they may be one as we are one(E)— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me(F) and have loved them(G) even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me(H) to be with me where I am,(I) and to see my glory,(J) the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.(K)
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you,(L) I know you, and they know that you have sent me.(M) 26 I have made you[a] known to them,(N) and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them(O) and that I myself may be in them.”
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one,(A) Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.(B) May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.(C) 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me,(D) that they may be one as we are one(E)— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me(F) and have loved them(G) even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me(H) to be with me where I am,(I) and to see my glory,(J) the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.(K)
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you,(L) I know you, and they know that you have sent me.(M) 26 I have made you[a] known to them,(N) and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them(O) and that I myself may be in them.”
Footnotes
- John 17:26 Greek your name
Cross references
- John 17:21 : Jer 32:39
- John 17:21 : ver 11; Jn 10:38
- John 17:21 : ver 3, 8, 18, 23, 25; S Jn 3:17
- John 17:22 : Jn 1:14
- John 17:22 : S Jn 14:20
- John 17:23 : ver 3, 8, 18, 21, 25; S Jn 3:17
- John 17:23 : Jn 16:27
- John 17:24 : S ver 2
- John 17:24 : S Jn 12:26
- John 17:24 : Jn 1:14
- John 17:24 : ver 5; S Mt 25:34; S Jn 1:2
- John 17:25 : Jn 15:21; 16:3
- John 17:25 : ver 3, 8, 18, 21, 23; S Jn 3:17; 16:27
- John 17:26 : ver 6
- John 17:26 : Jn 15:9
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. So that the world may believe (20-23)
Jesus prayed for all those who would become Jesus' disciples through the witness of the Twelve. The New Testament is the Apostles' testimony. When we see the Church of Jesus so split and divided, we wonder what Jesus meant when he prayed for the unity of believers. But all who believe the Bible, repent of their sins, confess Jesus as the Christ, and allow his Spirit to rule their lives are one--whether they know it or not. The Church does not need to seek unity for the sake of unity. Jesus wants his people to be one for the sake of mission. When Christians love one another, the people of the world can believe in God who sent his Son.
2. The great hope of all believers (24-26)
Our great hope is to be with Jesus and to behold his glory--the glory he shared with the Father before the world began. Until that day, Jesus continues to make himself known to those who love him. When he dwells in us, we can love others.
Prayer: Lord, dwell in me, and help me to love my fellow believers with your love.
One Word: Let us be one--that the world may believe