Glorify Your Son

John 17:1-5
Key Verse 17:1b 

“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”

The prayer of Jesus in chapter 17 is intended to summarize in Jesus' own words his relationship with the Father and the relationship he wishes his disciples to maintain with him and the Father.  The prayer can be divided into three parts: (1) Jesus' prayer concerning himself (vv.1-5), (2) his prayer for the disciples (vv.6-19), and (3) his prayer for all believers present and future (vv.20-26). 

1. Read verse 1. What was the time Jesus was referring to? (1a) What did he ask the Father to do for him?  Think about the meaning of  “glorify”. What does his first prayer topic reveal about his heart’s desire?


1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

What was the time Jesus was referring to?

It was the appointed time for his sufferings and death. 

The prayer begins with the announcement "The time has come." Jesus’ consciousness of living by God’s time schedule has been manifested in this gospel (John 2:4, 7:6, 8:20).

This announcement enhances the significance of the prayer because it becomes Jesus' evaluation of the purpose of his life, death, resurrection, and ascension.

John records the gesture of Jesus (‘Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed’). This was a typical Jewish gesture of prayer (John 11:41, Ps 121:1). 

What did he ask the Father to do for him?  Think about the meaning of “glorify”.

‘Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son.’

He began his prayer with the word “Father” and used the same word three times in this prayer (5, 21, 24) as well as "Holy Father"(11) and "Righteous Father"(25).

The prayer is not regarded as directly personal (John 11:41, ‘Father, I thank you’); nor is it in a universal type (Luke 18:11, ‘God, I thank you’). The prayer was based on the relationship between the Father and the Son.  

“Glorify” could include Jesus’ suffering, death, resurrection, and even ascension. The “glorifying” of the Son means the full manifestation of Jesus’ true nature.

What does his first prayer topic reveal about his heart’s desire?

‘That your Son may glorify you’

The purpose of Jesus’ prayer was to glorify the Father. The Father’s wisdom, power, and love might be known through Jesus.

It is through the Son that men know the Father and see the Father. All the purpose of Jesus’ work is to glorify the Father.  

Believers should live to glorify God (v. 10); in fact, this is the main purpose of man (1Cor 10:31, Eph 1:6, 12, Rom 16:27)

2. Read verses 2 and 3. Whom did Jesus have authority over and what could he give? (2) What is eternal life? (3) What does it mean to “know” God and Jesus Christ? (John 20:31)

2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  

3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Whom did Jesus have authority over 

‘For you granted him authority over all people ‘

Jesus' prayer request was in accordance with the Father's plan. Jesus gave eternal life according to God’s plan. 

Jesus received a legitimate authority over humanity from the Father. The full authority over men could be exercised after the Ascension. 

The phrase ‘all people’ describes mankind in their weakness and sins differently from the majesty of God. 

and what could he give?

‘That he might give eternal life to all those you have given him’

John’s gospel is filled with verses that says life is in Christ (1:4; 3:16; 5:21, 26; 11:25; 14:6). These words emphatically express the central purpose of Jesus: to glorify the Father by imparting eternal life to humans. 

Jesus was glorified when he gave eternal life. 

The contrast implied in ‘all people’ and ‘all those you have given him’, marks a mystery of the divine working which we cannot understand. God is sovereign. 

What is eternal life? 

 ‘Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’

The nature of eternal life is defined by a relationship. Eternal life involves the knowing the only true God through His Son (Mt 11:27). It is a personal and intimate relationship which is continuous and dynamic with the Father and the Christ.

What does it mean to “know” God and Jesus Christ? 

The knowledge of God as the Father is closely related the knowledge of the Son. The only true God is the One who sent Jesus. There are many gods but the only true God is the One who sent Jesus. 

The tense of the verb ‘know’ shows the knowledge of the Father and Son can be obtained progressively and continually rather than being gained once for all. 

Eternal life is not simply endless existence. Everyone will exist somewhere forever (Mat 25:46), but the question is, in what condition or in what relationship with the Father and Jesus Christ will they spend eternity?

3. Read verse 4-5. How did Jesus render glory to the Father while on earth? (Heb 5:7-9) How would God glorify Jesus? (5) What does verse 5 teach us about Jesus?

4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

How did Jesus render glory to the Father while on earth? (Heb 5:7-9)

‘I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.’

Here the glorifying of Christ is treated as a consequence of work done. Jesus' prayer for Himself was based on His completed work.

The historical mission of Christ is now regarded as ended; the earthly work is accomplished. Even though the Cross was future, it was a certainty.  By a life of absolute obedience and love Christ had revealed—and therefore glorified—the Father. Jesus said, “It is finished” on the cross.

Christ’s work was given by the Father. Jesus did not choose his work. He finished the work given by his Father through perfect obedience – through death on the cross.

How would God glorify Jesus? (5) 

‘Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.’

Jesus prayed that his Father would return his glory which he left in order to come into the world. It is the glory of the Creator God. (John 1:18). 

3) What does verse 5 teach us about Jesus?

Jesus is the Creator God. Jesus existed before the world began and is equal to the Father and he is one with the Father. (Jn 10:30) 

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