The Gospel of John: Come and See Our Preservation in Christ

Two weeks ago we began our study of John 17 where Jesus prays for himself and his people. As we learned initially, Jesus prays as our covenant head (paterfamilias) who takes responsibility for us and for our salvation. Even as he prays for his glorification, he prays for ours because we travel with him, permanently united to him by grace. But as he continues, his prayer shifts more directly to his family. Jesus asks the Father to glorify him, so that in turn, he may glorify the Father. But how will he glorify the Father? His prayer reveals that God is glorified through his family.

In essence, Jesus was sent to call God’s family out of the world and present them to the Father as reconciled children. So, he prays for his immediate family, the disciples, and then his extended family, all who will believe. He prays that his family will be preserved against the evil one because they will remain in the world in which Satan operates. He prays for our holiness in life and our participation in his mission of extending the rights of family to others. He prays for our unity together as a testimony to the nature of God but also for the completion Christ’s mission. All of this, he prays, so that the day will come when the entire family is presented to the Father in her glorified state.

Jesus’ prayer reveals God’s eternal plan to glorify the Son by making him the “firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:30). It also reveals God’s eternal plan to redeem his people from the world. Join me Sunday as we worship our covenant head and rejoice in his gracious care.

Tim Locke