There is something interesting going on in this passage in the middle of John 17. It happens a couple of times in John, actually. Explaining it might feel uncomfortable, but hang in there. In the end, it’s pretty beautiful.
The gospel of John is generally considered to have been written well after the other three gospels. Remember, despite our modern desire for such a phenomenon, it is extremely unlikely that anyone was sitting by each event and utterance in Jesus’ life and writing them down verbatim as Jesus was doing/saying them. And while we can have confidence in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit helping a gospel writer (say, Luke or John) write their respective gospel, much of this would have been from memory, or, others’ memories as in the case of Luke, who was not ever present with Jesus.
Many people believe that what we have in the gospel of John is a collective of traditional teachings from John himself, written down by the community he led later on.
But back to today’s passage - it sure seems like what Jesus is “saying” here is written in a past tense manner. As in, the way Jesus is talking seems to be as though he’s not actually with his disciples. If one can accept this, what he says is all the more beautiful.
The Church says it believes that Jesus is today interceding for his disciples at the right hand of God. Consider this posture as you read the passage.
And if you can, consider yourself to be part of the them and the they for whom he is praying.
John 17:9-19
“I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one. When I was with them, I watched over them in your name, the name you gave to me, and I kept them safe. None of them were lost, except the one who was destined for destruction, so that scripture would be fulfilled. Now I’m coming to you and I say these things while I’m in the world so that they can share completely in my joy. I gave your word to them and the world hated them, because they don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. I’m not asking that you take them out of this world but that you keep them safe from the evil one. They don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. Make them holy in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. I made myself holy on their behalf so that they also would be made holy in the truth.
Prayer
God,
Thank you for this new day.
Is Jesus really right there beside you as I pray this? Forget it, I’m sure our human understandings of spatiality are incomparable to who or “where” you and Jesus are.
But I do say, God…I’m grateful to believe that Jesus is our mediator. I confess that you often seem untouchable. But Jesus makes you reachable. So thank you, God, for sending him.
It actually seems like it was quite a risk to do so. Not just because we killed him, but for your own place in the divine picture of things. You showed significant love to us in sending Jesus. Indeed, to love is to risk. And you did.
Thank you.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.