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    John 17:20-26
    ​Lesson 207

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    It's still Thursday night of Passion week. 
    Jesus finishes the prayer begun in lesson 206.
     
    Lesson 207 is an excellent passage to read when frightened or in need of prayer.
    Every word in this segment is Jesus speaking.
    Study Tip: 
     
    Revelation is complex, so it helps to study more than one Bible translation. 
    As you read, scroll back and forth between the "King James Version" and the "New Living Translation" below.

    Also, check the margin notes in blue and click on the links.

    The Gospel According to St. John

    The King James Bible    ​

    John 17:20-26 
    Jesus prays for all believers

    20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
     
    21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

    ​22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
     
    23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

    24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
     
    25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
     
    26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
    ​Margin notes: 
     
    "Neither pray I for these alone."
    (17:20) - Means; Jesus wasn't just praying for His twelve disciples.  He was praying for all Christians, past, present, and future, including you.
     
    "As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee." (17:21) - The Father and Son are one, an important point that Jesus is reinforcing from verse 10:38.
     
    "Thou hast sent me." (17:23) - God sent Jesus to save mankind, a vital teaching that Jesus repeats over and over (John 8:42; 16:27; 17:8).
     
    "Be with me where I am." (17:24) - Jesus wants us to be with Him In heaven.
     
    "For thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (17:24) -  Jesus existed before the world was created (Proverbs 8:27-30; John 1:1; 17:5).  
     
    "I have declared unto them thy name." (17:26) - "I have made your name known to them."
     
    "The love wherewith thou hast loved me." (17:26) - Means, "The love with which you loved me."


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    John 17:20-26
    Jesus prays for believers
     
    20 "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

    21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
     
    22 "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.

    23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

    24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
     
    25 "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.

    ​26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them."
    This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version." ​
    Today's question:
     
    1. Why did Jesus pray?



    Don't pray for blessings; pray to be a blessing to others.
    Answer: (Do you agree?)
     
    1. In the last two lessons, Jesus prayed for Himself (17:1-5), for the protection of His disciples (17:6-12), and their sanctification (17:13-19).  He also prayed for Christian unity, then (17:11) and in the future (17:21-23).  Finally, and perhaps most importantly, this passage shows Jesus asking God to protect believer's past, present, and future from evil (17:15).



    Application thought for the day:

    "Jesus has prayed that you may be one with the Father as He is.  Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or have you some other end for your life?"

    ("My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio) 
    Don't forget.
    Your donation helps us reach more people looking for Jesus.
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.

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