John 17:1-13
The Lord Jesus, having given His last words to His disciples and having bade them farewell, now turns to His Father. He has not so far claimed anything for Himself but now He asks for glory. For the glory of God is at stake in the righteous Father (v. 25) honouring His obedient Son by glorifying Him.
Like a faithful messenger, the Lord Jesus gives account of the mission that He has accomplished on earth (v. 4). One side of this work had been to speak of the Father to His own (vv. 6, 26). Now He speaks of His own to the Father in order to commit them to His care since He Himself is to leave them. And His reasoning is infinitely touching, "they have kept thy word . . . they have believed that thou didst send me", He says first, even though we know how feeble had been the faith of the poor disciples (vv. 6-8; cf. John 14:9).
Then "they are thine . . ." (v. 9), the Lord continues, "how could you abandon them?" "I am glorified in them," He then adds, appealing to the interest the Father has in His Son’s glory. Finally He emphasizes the difficult situation of His redeemed people who are in a world which is so dangerous and which is such a test of faith. The Lord Jesus is the perfect Intercessor when He pleads His disciples’ cause; He does the same for us today.