In these verses Jesus is seen as our High Priest and Prophet. It will be seen that in His great intercession, prophetic utterances are made.

John 17:1 "Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, ..."

To prophetically know the Father's purpose is important. To know the timing of the hour is just as imperative.

John 17:1 "... the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,"

Glorification of the Father and the Son are inevitably linked. In the atoning death, justifying resurrection, and exaltation to the throne, Father and Son are glorified. To fulfill our hour to serve our generation in the power of the Holy Spirit, glorifies the Father and the Son. Christ Jesus alone has authority over all mankind to give eternal life.

John 17:2 "... He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him."

It is His free gift to sinners who believe on Him (John 17:3 ). It is foolish to imagine that anything can be added to Christ's finished work. He glorified the Father by perfectly revealing Him in an obedient ministry, a sinless life, and by offering Himself a perfect sacrifice for sinners (John 17:4 ).

Let the lowly disposition of Christ be in you so that you sense the interests of others first. The prayer of John 17:5 in its true fulfilment is presented in Philippians 2:5-11 with an application to put the concerns of others above our own personal interests. (Philippians 2:3-4 ).

Mark that our Lord remembered and anticipated a glory alongside the Father (John 17:5 ). In ascending to His previous glory He took His manhood to the throne. Sharing His lowly disposition here is the way that leads ultimately to sharing His glory there. (Romans 8:17 ).

Only five of these verses of intercession concentrate on Jesus Himself. Twenty one of the remaining verses are focussed on intercession for His own and those who would yet believe on Him.

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Things The Lord Jesus Commends In Those Given To Him By The Father

	In response to His manifesting the Father's name and giving the Word, they kept the Word (John 17:6 ).
	They kept the Word as from the Father (John 17:7,8 ).
	They believed in the sent Son the Lord Jesus (John 17:8 ).
	Reception of the Word, living by that Word as authoritatively divine, and surrender to the Lord's guidance, carry the Lord's approval.

For such He intercedes.

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Intercession For The Family Of Believers Takes Priority Over Praying For The World

John 17:9 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours."

There is prayer that the world might know He had been sent. (John 17:21 ). But His burden of prayer is for those who will carry on the work.

	Pray for those who belong to the Father. "They are Yours." (John 17:9; Ephesians 3:14-15 ).
	Pray for those given to Christ by the Father. "You have given." (John 17:9 ).

The Father's special interest is in those He has given.

John 17:10 "And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them."

	Pray for those of united concern to the Father and the son.
	Pray for those who magnify Christ "I am glorified in them" (John 17:10 ).

Use the petitions of the bodily absent Christ our High Priest.

John 17:11 "Now I am no longer in the world, ..."

	Pray to keep them (John 17:11 ).
	Pray to guard them (John 17:12 ), that none be lost.
	Pray for the joy of Jesus to be fulfilled in them (John 17:13 ).

	Intercede for those hated for Christ's sake (John 17:14 ).
	They are not worldly (John 17: 14 ).
	They need to be kept from the evil one (John 17:15 ).
	Pray for them to remain and be witnesses (John 17:15 ).
	Pray they will be set apart to the truth (John 17:17 ).
	As ones sent as Jesus was sent (John 17:18-19 ).
	Intercede for those they win to Christ (John 17:20 ), just as Christ Jesus prayed for us.

Join Him in praying for oneness among His people (John 17:21 ). It conditions the world to believe.

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Keep Before You The Wonderful Destiny Of Those In Christ

	We share Christ's glory now and will fully when He returns (John 17:22 ).
	We share a oneness with Christ, like to that of the Godhead (John 17:22 ).
	Made perfect in one we are witnesses to Christ and the Father's love (John 17:23 ).
	We are destined to see Christ's glory face to face (John 17:24 ).
	We are to know, in all its wonders, the love of the Father for the Son (John 17:24 ).

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Appeal In Intercession To The Righteousness Of God The Father

John 17:25 "O righteous Father, ..."

The world is ignorant of His righteousness, therefore they do not delight in Him, nor serve or obey Him. Through Jesus we know that the Father is just and the justifier in Christ. God's love in our conduct is evidence of Christ in us (John 17:26 ). Every request of Jesus foretold and forthtold His purposes for us.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. What do you learn from the intercession of Christ, about your own intercession, that you would like to share with others? (John 17:8-9 ).
2. Why does intercession for the family of believers take priority over praying for the world? (John 17:9 ).