John 17:6–10 (WEL) “I revealed your name to the men you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me. They have kept your word. 7 “They have known that everything you have given me is from you, 8 “For the words that you have given me, I have given them. They received them and truly know that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me. 9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom you gave me, for they are yours. 10 “Everything I have is yours, and yours is mine. I have been glorified in them.”
V6 “I revealed your name to the men you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me. They have kept your word.
Jesus refers to these 11 disciples. They had believed in Jesus being the Messiah; they accepted Him. That was their moment of salvation. Those who believe are those who are given to the Lord Jesus.
Jesus, God the Son, revealed much about God, His plans, His Gospel, His character, His desires, His wrath, His attributes, etc.
The Greek word for known/revealed is G5319 φανερόω phaneroō, which means (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “refers to the disclosure of the hidden meaning of parables in the proverbial saying in Mark 4:22…God’s reality, name, and works. All Jesus’ work is revelation.”
(Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) “Most significantly, phaneroō conveys the reality of God’s kingdom revealed to the world through the arrival of Jesus. Jesus prepared his disciples to spread his message by using the imagery of a lamp shedding light on a hidden reality, revealing it to the world (Mark 4:22). John the Baptist’s ministry happened so that Jesus ‘might be revealed to Israel’ as the promised Messiah (John 1:31). And through the apostle Paul’s proclamation, God has ‘revealed his word’ to the world (Titus 1:3).
“Finally, as Jesus’s arrival into the world revealed the inauguration of God’s kingdom come in the world, so phaneroō is also employed to describe his second coming in power to judge the earth, consummating the salvation of those belonging to him. We have the certain hope that ‘when the chief Shepherd appears, [we] will receive the unfading crown of glory’ (1 Peter 5:4). Encompassing this important reality is that all who belong to Christ by faith ‘will appear with him in glory’ (Colossians 3:4; cf. 1 John 3:2). Accordingly, Scripture admonishes us, ‘Remain in him so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him’ (1 John 2:28).”
From this world uses the word world to refer to all of humanity.
They continue to believe. They continue to follow. They continue to obey.
V7 “They have known that everything you have given me is from you,
Everything as regards knowledge about God the Father. Compare Matthew 11:25, John 1:9, and John 9:5.
Jesus did not utilize His Godhood fully; He came into this world as the God-Man, 100% human male (XY) and 100% God. He never ceased being God but did not utilize all His attributes. See Philippians 2:7 But divested himself, took the nature of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”
The Greek word for divested/emptied is G2758 κενόω kenoō, which means
(Louw & Nida) “to take away the power or significance of something—to cause to lose power, to cause to be emptied of power, to make powerless.”
Comments:
(Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged—Little Kittel]) “This can hardly mean that Christ negated himself, nor is it suggested that he aspires beyond his existing state. The point, then, is that Christ does not selfishly exploit his divine form but lays it aside to take the form of a servant. The preexistent Lord is the subject. He remains himself, but changes his mode of being (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9).”
(CWSB Dictionary) “The two states of the Lord Jesus are spoken about here. In verse seven, the state of His humiliation is referred to as having taken ‘the form [morphḗn {G3444} {acc.}] of a servant [doúlou {G1401} {acc.}],’ and having become ‘in the likeness [homoiṓmati {G3667}{dat.}] of men [anthrṓpōn {G0444}{gen. pl.}].’ In contrast to this, we have His preincarnate, eternal state spoken of in verse six as ‘being in the form [morphḗ] of God,’ and ‘equal [ísa {G2470}] with God.’ The truth expressed here concerning His preincarnate state is that He had to be equal with God in order to have the form of God. He could not be God the Son without being Deity. He who showed us the morphḗ of God, the form of God, the essence of God, had to be equal with God Himself.”
V8 “For the words that you have given me, I have given them. They received them and truly know that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me.
Note the preeminence of faith. This is the requirement of God for humanity. It is to believe Him, His Gospel, His words, His laws, etc.
Belief can be believing someone’s words; Believing can also be shown in obedience or disobedience as in Genesis 3:6–7 and Numbers 20:7–12.
V9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom you gave me, for they are yours.
Jesus gives us a little insight into His priestly ministry of intercession. Compare Hebrews 7:25.
Jesus’s priority is those who believe in Him.
V10 “Everything I have is yours, and yours is mine. I have been glorified in them.”
This is the principle all people must have. God owns everything.
He makes special claims regarding the nation of Israel (Isaiah 43:1 and Deuteronomy 32:9) and the church (believers). He also owns all humans (Ezekiel 18:4) and the universe (Psalm 50:12 and Isaiah 66:1–2).
We learn:
- How Jesus divested Himself of the full expression of His deity.
- Jesus’s concern for believers and makes intercession for them.
Questions:
- Are you proud or humble?
- Are you praying for others every day?