John 17:1-5 These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify your Son… I. THE CIRCUMSTANCE. 1. The place — probably the west bank of the Kidron; but to a devout soul any spot serves as an oratory (John 4:21; 1 Timothy 2:8). 2. The time — the last night of His life. Not surprising that sinful men should pray then: and comforting to know that the Sinless One then found solace in prayer. 3. The audience — not in solitude as oftentimes before (John 6:15; Matthew 14:23; Luke 9:28), or in the company of strangers (John 11:41; Matthew 11:25), but in the hearing of His disciples. Note the distinction between private and public prayer — the former for individual profit, the latter the advantage of others as well. II. THE SPIRIT. 1. Reverential — lifted up His eyes. It becomes those who approach the throne of grace to remember whose throne it is (Psalm 11:4; Psalm 45:6), to cherish exalted views of His majesty (Psalm 31:8; Psalm 89:7), and to show them by corresponding outward postures (Exodus 3:5; Hebrews 12:28). 2. Filial — "Father." In the Spirit of a Son He maintained communion with the Father, which is also the true Spirit for us (Romans 8:15). 3. Believing. Shown by the appeal Christ makes to the arrival of His hour as a reason why His prayer should be heard. The hour being prearranged by the Father, He intercedes for the fulfilment of the promise which was bound up with it. True prayer ever springs from faith in the Father's promise (Psalm 119:49; Hebrews 11:6). 4. Urgent. Revealed by the action above described, and by the twofold recurrence of the main petition (vers. 1-5). Fervent importunity a characteristic of right prayer. III. THE PETITION. "Father, glorify," &c. 1. What it implied. (1) That the praying Son had been in existence before the world was (ver. 5). (2) That though the Son He was not in that glory. (3) That He had laid aside that glory in order to become the Father s servant (Philippians 2:6, 7). 2. What it desired. (1) Not posthumous fame through the influence of the gospel (Psalm 72:17); this He could not have had before the world was. (2) That having finished the Father's work, He might resume His pre-existent glory in an incarnate form. IV. THE PLEAS. 1. The honour of the Father. He saw that the cause the Father had at heart could be more successfully carried forward by the Son on the throne of the universe. 2. The salvation of the Church. The work of bestowing eternal life on dead souls would proceed more efficaciously were He in heaven. 3. The recompense of Himself (ver. 4). Yet Christ employs this argument only in the third place.Learn — 1. The Fatherhood of God is the best refuge for dying men. 2. The chief end of man is to glorify God. 3. Eternal life is impossible apart from the grace of God and the revelation of Christ. 4. The best preparation for heaven is the faithful execution of God's will on earth. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: |
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