Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven

This title is taken from John 17:1 which informs us, "Jesus spoke these words and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, 'Father, the hour has come, glorify Your Son, that Your son also may glorify You'."

The scene is the upper room known as the setting for Jesus' last supper. The incidents in John chapter 13 to chapter 17 all take place in the upper room. It is the night of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus of Nazareth.

In chapter 13 we have the Lord Jesus washing His disciples' feet. Later we have Judas Iscariot leaving to arrange the betrayal of Jesus.

In chapter 14 we have the Lord Jesus instructing and comforting his disciples.

In chapter 15 Jesus likens Himself and His disciples to a vine and its branches; pointing out the branches receive their life from the vine. "...without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5).

In chapter 16 Jesus tells them that when He goes away the Holy Spirit will come to them and guide them into all truth; and that He will be their Helper.

Then we come to chapter 17, a beautiful, instructive, compelling, compassionate prayer; which should enrich the lives of all true born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is before us here? I cannot hope to do an in depth exposition of this marvellous chapter in this short blog post. However I can highlight some of the rich truths in this chapter.

In verse 1 we learn that Jesus' time on earth was nearly over. He petitions the Father to glorify the Son, so that the Son can also glorify the Father.

Verses 2 & 3 reveal that to know both Father and Son is eternal life.

Verses 4 & 5, we learn that Jesus' work on earth was finished and now He wanted to be glorified with the glory He had in eternity.

Verses 6-8 The disciples are on his mind. He had revealed the Father to them and they believed the words Jesus had spoken to them about the Father.

Verses 9-12 Jesus prays for His disciples and reveals that the disciples belong to the Father and the Son. Jesus had kept them through the Father's name.

Verses 13-16 Jesus is going back to the Father [in heaven]. Jesus prays that the Father will keep them from the evil one [Satan].

Verse 17-19 Jesus prays that the Father will sanctify them through the truth; because Jesus has sent them into the world.

Verses 20 & 21 Jesus also prays for those who will believe in him through the faithful testimony of His disciples.

Verse 22 & 23 Jesus gives His followers the same glory that the Father gave Him as a man. The reason is that Father, Son and Jesus' followers may be united all together in one bond of life.

Verse 24, Jesus' desire is that all His own will be with Him in the Glory.

Verse 25 The world has not known the Father. Jesus has known the Father and His own know that the Father sent Jesus to them.

Verse 26 Jesus has declared unto them the Father's name and He wants His own to personally know the love of the Father for each of them.

Fellow believer in Christ read John chapter 17 again and let the truths in this chapter seep into your very soul. These are among His last words spoken to his disciples before His arrest, mock trial and crucifixion.

How fitting that this chapter is primarily a prayer to the Father for His [Jesus'] own; yet the glory of the Son is revealed to us yet again.

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words in [ ] are there for the sake of clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point.]

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