John 17:1

CHAP. XVII.

THis Chapter contains Christs solemn prayer to the Father after the farewell Sermon; wherein by supplicating for himself, his disciples, and all his members. He sanctifieth the use of prayer to all his followers, by making use thereof in his own person for obtaining what he needed; he maketh his latter Will and Testament, leaving his legacies to his followers, and leaveth us a pattern of his perpetual intercession in heaven, as our great High Priest, for upholding the Ministry and Church; shewing what his heart will be in his absence, and what he liveth for ever to accomplish. And he speaks all this openly in his disciples audience, that he may confirme them in the faith of his love, may assure them of what he prayes for; and may teach them, by his example, what to ask for themselves.

The Chapter may be taken up in three parts: In the first, He prayeth for himself, that the Father would glorifie him; pressing the same by Arguments, taken not only from the sweet relation betwixt the Father and him, but more expressely, from the time wherein he asketh this, from his glorifying the Father, being glorified by him, v. 1. from his calling and charge to give eternal life to the Elect, v. 2, 3. and, from his fidelity in his Charge and Commission, v. 4. upon which he repeats and explaines his petition, by way of conclusion, v. 5. In the second part of the Chapter is contained his prayer for his eleven Apostles expresly; Wherein, 1. He describes them for whom he is to pray, giving an account of his diligence and successe with them. v. 6, 7, 8. 2. He appropriates his prayer and intercession to them, in opposition to the world, for several reasons, v. 9, 10. 3. He propounds his first petition, for their preservation, that so they may be kept in unity, v. 11. pressing it upon several grounds, v. 12, 13.14. and repeating and explaining the same, v. 15. reinforcing one of the former reasons to perswade it, v. 16. 4. He propounds a second suit for their sanctification, v. 17. pressing it by two arguments, v. 18, 19. In the third part of the Chapter, He prayeth for the Apostles and the whole Church expresly, v. 20. wherein he prayes for spiritual unity to them, as being notably advantagious, v. 21. (for attaining whereof he allowes excellent priviledges upon them, v. 22. particularly, union with God through him as the way to union among themselves, v. 23.) and for union in place with himself in heaven at last, v. 24 In the mean time, recommending them, (and particularly, the Apostles) on weighty grounds, to the Fathers love and his inhabitation, v. 25, 26.

In this verse, (after a short transition, intimating a connexion betwixt the former doctrine and this prayer, and a declaration of his posture in prayer with his eyes lift up to heaven) is contained, 1. A proposition of his petition for himself, that the Father would glorifie him, of which more on v. 5. only in summe, it imports his desire that God would glorifie him; by sustaining him in his approaching agony, that in it he might triumph over all his and his peoples enemies, by proving him to be the Son of God, even in his sufferings, as he did by many miracles at his death, Mat. 27.45, 46, 51, 52, 53. And all this but as a preludie to his being glorified in his Resurrection, Ascension, and Exaltation at the Fathers right hand, of which v. 5. and which was to be manifested in the world by the propagation of his spiritual Kingdom. 2. Some of the reasons pressing this petition: one is couched in that sweet relation betwixt: the Father and him, implied in the titles of Father and Son. But there are more expressely subjoyned, 1. A reason taken from the time, wherein he asketh this, that the houre is come, namely, the houre of his agony, wherein he expected support, and to be glorified, according as he would need, and was promised to him in the Covenant of Redemption, Psal. 89, 21, 22. Isa. 49.8. and 50.8, 9. Psal. 16.10. with Acts 2.31. As also upon the back of that, the houre of his promised exaltation, having waited his time, and done the Will of the Father in the forme of a servant. 2. Another reason taken from a consequent of granting his desire, and his end in propounding of it; namely, that the Father glorifying him, he might also glorifie the Father, whose glory shines in the glory of his Son, and in his obedience, sufferings and successe. From all which, Learn, 1. Prayer to God is a special mean to make beleevers lively in all duties, and to make the Word and all our endeavours effectuall for that end; for, These words spake Jesus, in preaching, and then subjoynes prayer for a blessing upon what he said, wherein he asks these things of the Father which he had pressed upon them. 2. Christ is so real in his love to his people, that he will say nothing to them for their encouragement, but what he will say of them and for them, in his compeering before the Father on their behalf; Therefore, having spoken these things to them, wherein he had let out much of his heart and love to them, he doth now confirm the same, by speaking as much of them to God, hereby assuring them that he would be the same in absence, that he was when present. 3. As it is the duty of the Lords people, to study alwayes spiritual mindednesse; to set their affections upon things above, and to visit their faire inheritance, by sending their affections thither, till themselves follow after; so, in particular, it is their duty in prayer, to rowse up their affections, and set them to God, and heaven-ward, and to testifie their, want hereaway, and that all their confidence and expectation depends on God; and on his help and consolations sent from heaven; for, so much doth Christs example teach, who in prayer, lift up his eyes to heaven, or, to God, in that place where his glorie is specially manifested, and his followers made compleatly happy with him. And by this posture did testifie the heavenly and depending frame of his Spirit. 4. Albeit the Lord know the most secret desires of the heart, and do respect and hear the very thoughts of his people; yet it is their duty, as they have opportunity, to make use of their tongue in prayer, that so they may do him homage with the whole man; may, by that means, (among others) excite their own affections in prayer; and may edifie others in their place and station, for some (at least) of these causes it is, that Christ in prayer spake in the audience of his disciples, he lift up his eyes, and said and by his practice and example would teach us our duty, 5. Prayer is a notable mean for carrying men through in trials; And Christ hath sanctified it, and encouraged his followers to make use thereof, by employing of it as his weapon in his greatest extremity and need, and that upon grounds of common interest; that so in all things he might be like his brethren; for, here in the apprehension of his approaching agony, he betakes himself to prayer on his own behalf, using arguments of interest common to him, with his brethren in him, Father glorifie thy Sonne. 6. So rich is the Lords allowance to his people, that in the midst and throng of their saddest pressures, they may have hearts filled with thoughts and expectations of great glory to be conferred upon them, in and after their sad sufferings; for, his thoughts, when he looks upon his approaching sufferings, are, glorifie thy Son. 7. Christ, in his saddest sufferings, was still glorious in himself, and appeared so to the conviction of others, and all his sufferings are now crowned and shut up in great glory; for, now and shortly after, was the Son glorified. 8. God hath it absolutely in his hand, to conferre glory and honour upon his suffering children, and to glorifie himself in them, so that none can impede him in it; for, saith he, Father, glorifie thy Son. 9. Albeit Saints need not perswade God to grant what they ask agreeable to his Will; yet it is necessary they use arguments in prayer; that they may assure their own hearts may evidence their confidence, to his glory; and, may testifie their instancy in urging of their suites; Therefore doth Christ presse his petition with so many reasons. 10. Interest in God, and familiarity with him, are of great use in a day of strait, and are the wheels upon which prayer to God will move sweetly; Therfore, doth Christ couch this encouragement in the bosome of his prayer, that God is his Father, and he his Son, to teach us, to make that interest sure, which may beget so much confidence in prayer in a day of need, seeing a father can deny nothing that is good to a childe, nor will many words be needed to a father, when the childe is in distresse. 11. Christ hath a sweet fellowship with, and spceial interest in the Father, and his approaches to him, for himself or his people, are full of Sonly confidence, and such as cannot be ineffectual; for, to him it belongs in a special manner, (and to all others only through him,) to plead these relations of Father and Son, and to expect audience because he stands in so near relation to God. 12. Whatever be the excuses of Saints in ordinary; yet they may still expect that needful and promised proofes of love will not be withheld in the houre of their distresse, and that honest prayers will avail much, when distresse is great, and nothing left but prayer; for, now when the hour (or the set time appointed for his suffering) is come, he betakes himself to prayer, confidently expecting that then the Father will glorifie his Son. See Heb. 4.16. 13, The only way to come speed at Gods hands in obtaining promised mercies, is, patiently to wait his time, submitting to be exercised, in our faith, audience, patience and subjection to him, till the houre of deliverance come; for, Christ having a promise of being glorified, not only in, but after his sufferings, doth quietly continue under the forme of a servant, till now the houre is come, wherein God had promised to glorifie him. See Heb. 10.36. 14. As Gods being a Father gives sweet ground of encouragement in prayer to his children: so it is an evidence of Sonship, when they have cleanly aims in their prayers, and are led to make sweet use of the answer of prayer; for, so Christ clears his Sonship from his aime in this suit, and the use he purposed to make of it, that thy Son also may glorifie thee. 15. To be cleanly in our aim in prayer, and make honest use of the answer thereof, is the way to come much speed in prayer; for, this is an argument pressing audience, that the Son being heard, will glorifie him. See Jam 4.3. 16. It is a true evidence of Sonship when mens chief aim in all they ask and obtain, is the glory of God, and that they may be enabled active to concurre in glorifying of him; for, this is Christs first and chief aime, premitted to all the rest: That thy Son also may glorifie thee. 17. The glory of the Son is the glory of the Father also; And he is glorified in the glorification of his Son, and by his Son so glorified: In the suffering of his Son; he is glorified in his obedience, his justice against sin, his wisdom in finding out a way of Redemption, and his love to lost man, shine in that matter; In his exaltation, he is glorified, in his fidelity and power, and consummating the work of Redemption by his Son. And Christ thus exalted, glorifieth him, by the preaching of the Gospel, and subduing the world to his obedience; for, these two go together, glorifie thy Son, that thy Son also may glorifie thee. 18. It may assure beleevers, that their well-being will bear much sway in heaven, when they consider that both the Father and Son are glorified therein; That the Son is glorified, in being carried through in suffering for them, and in perfecting their Redemption, and in triumphing over all their enemies, and that the Father is glorified in thus glorifying of his Son; Therfore is this spoken in the audience of his disciples, to encourage them, by hearing the Father and Sons glory so much concerned in this businesse.