Johannes 17:1

1 Solches redete Jesus, und hob seine Augen auf gen Himmel und sprach: Vater, die Stunde ist da, daß du deinen Sohn verklärest, auf daß dich dein Sohn auch verkläre;

Johannes 17:1 Meaning and Commentary

John 17:1

These words spake Jesus
Referring to his sermons and discourses, his words of comfort, advice, direction, and instruction, delivered in the three preceding chapters:

and lift up his eyes to heaven;
the seat of the divine majesty, the throne of his Father. This is a prayer gesture. It is said ^F3 of R. Tanchuma, that (Mymvl wynp hybgh) , "he lift up his face to heaven", and said before the holy blessed God, Lord of the world and this is expressive of the ardency and affection of the mind of Christ, and of his confidence of the divine favour: it shows that his mind was filled with devotion and faith, and was devoid of shame and fear, and was possessed of great freedom, boldness, and intrepidity:

and said, Father;
or "my Father", as the Syriac, Arabic and Persic versions read; and no doubt but he used the word Abba, which signifies "my Father", thereby claiming his interest in him, and relation to him:

the hour is come;
to depart out of the world, to suffer and die for his people, which was agreed upon between him and his Father from all eternity; and it was welcome to him, on account of the salvation of his people, and therefore he spoke with an air of pleasure and satisfaction; and it would be quickly over, was but an hour, as it were, though a time of great trouble, distress and darkness, and so a fit time for prayer:

glorify thy Son;
as man and Mediator; for as God, he needed no glory, nor could any be added to him: but it designs some breakings forth of glory upon him at his death; by supporting him under all the sorrows and sufferings of it; and in carrying him through it; so that he conquered all his people's enemies, and his own, sin, Satan, the world, and death, and obtained eternal redemption for them: and at his resurrection; by not suffering him to remain so long in the grave, as to see corruption; and by raising him at the exact time that was foretold by the prophets and himself; and by sending an angel to roll away the stone; and by raising some of the saints along with him; and by putting such a glory on his body, as that it is the pattern and exemplar of the saints' resurrection: and at his ascension to heaven, when he led captivity captive; and at his session at the right hand of God, above all principalities and powers; and through the effusion of the Spirit upon his disciples, and the divine power that attended his Gospel, to make it effectual to great multitudes, both to Jews and Gentiles; by all which he was glorified, pursuant to this petition of his; in which his end is,

that thy Son also may glorify thee;
as he had done throughout the whole of his life and conversation, and by his ministry and miracles; so now at his sufferings and death, through the salvation of his chosen ones, in which the wisdom, grace, justice, holiness, power, and faithfulness of God are greatly glorified; and in the after discharge of other branches of his mediatorial office, in making intercession for his people, in the ministry of his word and ordinances, by his servants, attended with his holy Spirit, and by the administration of his kingly office.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Vajikra Rabba, sect. 34. fol. 174. 4.

Johannes 17:1 In-Context

1 Solches redete Jesus, und hob seine Augen auf gen Himmel und sprach: Vater, die Stunde ist da, daß du deinen Sohn verklärest, auf daß dich dein Sohn auch verkläre;

2 Gleichwie du ihm Macht hast gegeben über alles Fleisch, auf daß er das ewige Leben gebe allen, die du ihm gegeben hast.

3 Das ist aber das ewige Leben, daß sie dich, der du allein wahrer Gott bist, und den du gesandt hast, Jesum Christum, erkennen.

4 Ich habe dich verklärt auf Erden und vollendet das Werk, das du mir gegeben hast, daß ich es tun sollte.

5 Und nun verkläre mich du, Vater, bei dir selbst mit der Klarheit, die ich bei dir hatte, ehe die Welt war.