John 17
The gracious ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, before the world, is over. The loving discourses with the disciples are finished. All being closed on earth, the Lord looks heavenward toward that home into which He will so soon enter. The Lord has spoken to the disciples of the Father—now we hear Him speak to the Father concerning His disciples.
The prayer stands alone among all prayers by reason of the glorious Person by whom it is uttered. Who but a divine Person could say, “That they may be one, as We” (John 17:1111And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (John 17:11)), and again, “That they also may be one in Us” (vs. 21). Such utterances could never fall from human lips. Deny the deity of His Person, and these words would become the blasphemies of an impostor.
The prayer is alone, too, by reason of its unique character. It has been pointed out by another that “it has no voice of confession . . . no echo, however distant, of recognition of sin, no tone that is touched with a feeling of demerit or defect . . . no intimation of inferiority or entreaty for help.”
We are arrested by its comprehensiveness. We listen to One who speaks of an eternity before the foundation of the world, as having had part in that glorious past. We hear Him speak of His perfect pathway upon earth. We are carried on to the apostolic days by One to whom the future is an open book. We listen to words which cover the whole period of the church’s pilgrimage on earth, as we hear the Lord’s desires for those who will believe on Him through the apostles’ words. Finally, we are carried in thought to coming eternity, when we shall be with Christ and like Christ.
As we listen to these heart-breathings of our Lord, we feel that while our passage through this world is still in view, yet we are carried beyond the passing things of time to contemplate the changeless things of eternity. However needful feet-washing, however blessed fruit-bearing, however great the privilege to testify and suffer for Christ, yet such things are hardly in view. Rather, it is those greater things which, while they may be known and enjoyed in time, belong to eternity. Life eternal, the Father’s name, the Father’s words, the Father’s love, the joy of Christ, holiness, unity and glory are eternal things which will abide when time will have forever passed.
Moreover, as we listen to our Lord’s prayer, we learn the desires of His blessed heart, so that the believer can say, “I know the desire of His heart for me.” This must be so, for perfect prayer is the expression of the heart’s desire. Alas! with ourselves, our prayers may often become formal and, as such, only the expression of what we like others to think is the desire of our hearts. No element of formality enters into this divine prayer. All is as perfect as the One who prays.
H. Smith (excerpted)