1 Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; 2 even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 4 I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed."

6 "I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you, 8 for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me."

9 "I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are."

John 17:1-11 - World English Bible

These opening verses of John 17 could be divided into three parts: 1-5, 6-8 and 9-11. The first section formed an "A-B-C-B-A" or a step-up, step-down structure John used in his gospel. The following summarized the verses:

A: Glorify your Son (17:1)

B: so the Son might glorify you ...he gave eternal life to...everyone you gave him. (17:2)

C: This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the One whom you sent, Jesus Christ. (17:3)

B: I gave you glory on earth having completed the work you gave me to do. (17:4)

A: Now you give me glory... (17:5)

This structure led up to the top step, as a way to highlight its importance. In other words, the glory given the Son by the Father (A) and shared with his followers (B) led to eternal life, knowledge found only in an intimate relationship with the Father and his Son. Glory was a means to an end: salvation.

What is the content of this knowledge that is eternal life? In the second section, Jesus described it as revelation of the Father's name. In this sense, the name made the power of God manifest; it revealed the presence of the Father in the community. To remain in the community of the saved, the disciple needed to "keep the word" of the Father given to them through the Son.

Jesus finished the passage with a prayer for his followers, for he would return to his Father. He finished his work, to unify humanity with divinity, to give eternal life to those who would receive "the word."

How have you received the Father's word this day?