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CO PYRIG H T BY W ILLIAM EVANS
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN (Concluded)
C O FAR in our study o f the Gospel of V-* John, we have considered: The Pro logue (1:1-18) ; A—The self-manifestation o f Jesus to the world ( 1 :19-12:50), com prising His private self-manifestation (1:19-2:11), public self-mani festation (2:12-4:54), and fuller self-manifestation tp the world (5:1-12:50) ; B—The self- manifestation o f Jesus to His disciples (13:1-17:26), comprising the events preced ing the last discourse (13:1-30), the last discourse itself (13:31-16:33), the third division under B being considered in this THE SELF-MANIFESTATION OF JESUS TO HIS DISCIPLES, 13:1- 17:26. III. The interecessory or high-priestly prayer of our Lord, 17 : 1 - 26 . This is a great prayer after a great ser mon. It is the only complete prayer o f our Lord on record. What a liturgy we would have had there been preserved for us the prayers o f Jesus! W e have but frag ments o f his prayers preserved for us in the gospel 'records. This is the prayer o f a strong man facing death and praying for those who have been with Him in His ministry throughout the brief years. This prayer naturally falls, into three sec tions : the prayer o f Christ for Himself B.
(17 :l-5) ; the prayer o f Christ for His dis ciples (6-19) ; the prayer o f Christ for the church o f the future 20-26. 1. The prayer o f Christ for Himself, 17:1-5. Under this section we have the request o f Christ for personal glorification that He may glorify the Father (17:1) ; endure the cross, “the hour” (17:1) ; bless humanity by the bestowal o f eternal life (1 7 :2 ); finish the work appointed by the Father (17:4). 2. The prayer for the apostles, 17:6-19. Under this section we have Christ describing His relation to them and their attitude towards Him, and the message the Father had given Him (17:6) ; praying for their unity with the Father, the Son, and each other (17:11) ; praying that the Father would keep them while they remained in the world, from the power o f the evil one (17:11, 15, 16); praying for their sanctifi cation—that they might be consecrated to the work o f the ministry as He had been (17:17-19). 3. The prayer for the church o f the future, 17:20-26. Under this section we have Christ pray ing for its unity (17:21-23) ; for its power in testimony before the world (21, 23) ; that the whole church may be gathered ultimately with Him in eternal glory (24-26).
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