Jesus prays to the Father for His Work and His mission

Introduction

Last week, we learned the Lord’s Prayer and saw how Jesus, at the beginning of His ministry, taught His disciples, and all who follow Him, how to pray, providing a concrete example of communicating with the Father. It is a prayer in which He is honored, exalted, and glorified, and placed first in every aspect of life.

That prayer also showed them that the Father is not confined to a temple or bound by religious rituals, but is to be approached directly through sincere prayer, offered in faith and trust, without the need for any human religious authority.

Over the next three weeks, we will examine another prayer of Jesus, also addressed to the Father, but very different in nature. This prayer is directed toward three distinct recipients: Jesus Himself, His disciples, and all believers, the Church.

Today, we will focus on the first recipient, Jesus Himself, who prays to the Father concerning His work, His earthly ministry, and His coming glorification through His death and resurrection.

Context of this prayer

Before Jesus lifted up His prayer to the Father, His disciples had finally come to recognize who He truly was:

“His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and are not using any figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and that You have no need for anyone to question You; this is why we believe that You came forth from God.” (John 16:29–30)

After three years of walking and serving alongside their Master, their Rabbi, they had finally understood who Jesus was. This time, Jesus spoke to them clearly and concretely. It was now time for them to know what He was about to accomplish, not through parables anymore, but in simple and direct words.

John 17 marks the last private and intimate moment Jesus shared with His disciples before His humiliation, His sacrifice on the cross, and above all, His triumph over death. This powerful prayer represents the end of His public ministry and the beginning of the final stage of God’s salvation plan for humanity.

In this prayer, Jesus reveals to His disciples the perfect communion between the Father and Himself. He shows them His love for the Father, and also His love for those who followed and who will follow Him.

His prayer is not limited to the disciples present that day, but extends to all believers throughout this age of grace that the Father has granted to humanity, so that the world may recognize the work of Christ, believe, repent, be saved, and give glory to the Father before the end of time.

Finally and above all, John 17 reveals that all authority was given by the Father to Him to grant eternal life, that Jesus Christ is the Lord of lords and the King of kings, our only and unique Mediator before the Father, and our Good Shepherd.

Now, as a result of this, His disciples also learned how to pray for the Church, for its protection, unity, and sanctification (being set apart) for the Father, through Jesus Christ.

The Chronology of His Intercession for His Glorification

Jesus lifts up His prayer to the Father, revealing the ultimate purpose of His ministry: His glorification before the Father.

What is glorification? Glorification is the final part of salvation, when believers are made completely like Jesus Christ, in both spirit and body. It is the completion of sanctification and the full result of God’s saving work in every believer’s life.

To fully understand Christ’s redemptive work, it is essential to remember that Jesus has always existed, present since the creation of the world, fully man and fully God, acting as the living, eternal, and unchanging God on earth.

First, what He was: having come forth from the Father, sent by the Father, and having left His throne of glory, the Messiah, the Anointed One, His only begotten Son, the perfect Sacrifice, to be offered for the unjust, for the salvation of the souls that the Father had given Him.

Second, what He is: the only Mediator between God and man, who received authority over all flesh in order to glorify the Father and to give eternal life to those whom the Father entrusted to Him.

Finally, what He will be: through His sacrificial work on the cross, He will be glorified again with the Father, returning to the glory He shared before the foundation of the world.

“and raising His eyes to heaven,”

Heaven is the dwelling place of the Father, but it is also the place from which Jesus, our Lord, came and to which He longed to return. It is from there that He descended, to there that He ascended, and from there that He will return to judge the entire world.

God the Father left His throne of glory. As the Apostle Paul says: « emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being burnin the likeness of men. » (Philippians 2:6-7) taking on flesh in the person of Jesus Christ to accomplish His redemptive work on the cross.

Today, Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father and reigns over His Church as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

“He said, “Father”

When Jesus began to pray, He spoke to the Father, showing His disciples the supreme heavenly authority of the Father and giving them the example of perfect submission. The Father is the Creator of the universe, the One who Is, the Sovereign Ruler who acts according to His holy will. 

Before being arrested, unjustly condemned, and crucified, Jesus said, “And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39

Jesus, as the beloved Son, has always done and fulfilled what the Father entrusted to Him, showing us the way to follow in this as well.

“the hour has come,”

This was an important moment, showing Jesus’ total surrender and obedience to the Father’s will. It was the moment the Father had planned from the beginning, the time for the perfect and final sacrifice, to offer forgiveness of sins to everyone who believes in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

We can imagine Jesus praying to the Father, close and personal, right beside us. Such a connection between the Son and the Father would deeply touch our hearts. The disciples could not see it, but it was very real and very close to their Master.

His work was not yet finished, so the disciples could not fully understand Him. His hour had not yet come, and the Holy Spirit had not yet been sent to reveal the truth to them. Only after Pentecost did the disciples fully understand the promises and the glory of the Son, as well as the Father’s mission, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“glorify Your Son,”

The glorification of the Son is the completion and fulfillment of His perfect work.

Jesus’ work includes His death, resurrection, ascension, and exaltation. Through these, He accomplished salvation, revealed God’s perfect love and justice, and will one day restore all creation according to the Father’s eternal plan.

God’s plan of redemption is fully carried out in Jesus Christ, His only Son. 

Conceived by the Holy Spirit and anointed by the Father, He serves as Mediator between God and humanity, Prophet, Priest, and King, Head of the Church, Heir of all things, and Judge of the world.

Christ’s death is the foundation of salvation. It fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, including the Passover Lamb and the Suffering Servant. Through His sacrifice, Jesus satisfied God’s justice and reconciled humanity with Him. His blood, shed once for all, is sufficient for everyone, yet effective only for those who believe, giving forgiveness, redemption, and freedom from sin.

Christ’s resurrection confirms His divinity, secures the justification of believers, and guarantees eternal life. It shows God’s power and establishes Christ as Head of the Church and Intercessor for His people (Rom. 1:4; Eph. 1:20–22).

His ascension marks His return to heaven in a glorified body, to the place He has always known.

His exaltation places Him at the right hand of the Father, in honor, crowned with glory and bearing the Name above all names. There, He reigns as Sovereign Lord and High Priest over all creation.

“So that Your Son may glorify You”

This glorification is mutual, showing the perfect unity between the Father and the Son. The Son’s glory comes from the Father, and the Son’s work brings glory to the Father through His perfect plan of salvation.

This should also speak deeply to us. As we follow Jesus’ example and reflect on what the Bible teaches about our actions and our lives, everything we do should be for the glory of our Father, who loves us unconditionally through Jesus Christ.

“just as You gave Him authority over all mankind, so that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life” 

Jesus Christ is eternal life. The Father has given Him authority over all people, so that He may grant eternal life to everyone who believes. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This verse also shows the close relationship between the Father and the Son: the Father entrusts believers to the Son, ensuring their salvation and eternal security.

“Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37-40)

The question arises: who are the chosen ones? The answer belongs to God alone, for He alone knows the hearts of people. Yet we, the Church of Christ, are called to proclaim the Gospel of salvation to the world, trusting that God, in His wisdom and mercy, will draw His chosen ones to Himself. The mystery of election belongs to God, and our responsibility is to faithfully share the good news and live in obedience, leaving the work of salvation to Him.

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

This is an undeniable truth. To receive eternal life is to know the true God who sent His only Son to save lost souls. Without believing in the redemptive work of Jesus, the unique Mediator between God and humanity, no one can approach the holiness and glory of the Father or receive eternal life.

Yes, we are still sinners, but we are washed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanses, sanctifies and justifies us before the Father. Sin no longer has power over our souls to bring eternal death, for the Blood of the Lamb protects us from God’s righteous judgment.

Jesus also uses the small word “You” to point clearly to His Father, showing the personal and exclusive relationship believers have with the living God.

Knowing God is the work of the Holy Spirit: it is the Father who draws us to Himself. Through sincere repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, His grace takes hold of our hearts and grants us salvation. When we receive this grace, our lives are transformed, showing an intimate, personal relationship with Him.

In this world, false gods and idols made by people, inspired by Satan, are everywhere, even false Christs, whose goal is to lead people away from the only Son of the true God, Jesus Christ, the only Savior of our souls. Recognizing Jesus’ full divinity and humanity, as the Light of the world, the Messiah, and the Anointed of the Lord, is the key to true salvation.

It is no longer a question of whether Jesus existed, performed miracles, rose from the dead, or ascended to heaven, these are all historically attested by eyewitnesses. The real question is: what will we do with this Truth? Will we grasp this divine Truth? No true man or woman of God could die for a lie, nor be completely transformed, without the real and powerful work of the Holy Spirit. Will we fully abide in Him, the true God?

“I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do. And now You, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed.”

Jesus glorified the Father through His entire life on earth. This heavenly glory is the culmination of His perfect obedience, a profound joy in accomplishing the work that reconciles all humanity with the Father. For Jesus, completing this work was an act of honor and love toward the Father. Though Jesus was God made flesh, He experienced human suffering beyond measure. He emptied Himself of His glory to meet us and save us through His perfect sacrificial love.

Our goal is to discover and accomplish, in faith and obedience, the divine work the Father has prepared for each of us. These works, empowered by The Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith and bring glory to the Father. As co-heirs with Christ, together with Paul and all the saints throughout history, we will share in His glory at the appointed time. And as faithful servants, we will also receive the crown of glory promised to every true child of the Heavenly Father.

Conclusion

This is a powerful passage, revealing the deep intimacy between Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and His Father in Heaven, a relationship that extends to us through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we honor His perfect and divine work, accomplished for our salvation and for the privilege of drawing near to the Father in a personal relationship.

Let us remember the suffering of Jesus and the glory that is to come. Let us also remember the countless men and women of God throughout the centuries who endured trials and persecution, faithfully proclaiming the Gospel of Christ through obedience and faith.

As His followers, let us be the light in the darkness and the salt of the earth, confident that our faithful service and obedience will be rewarded with treasures stored in heaven.