John 17:24

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

John 17:24 (KJV)

Context

John 17 records Jesus’ prayer on the night before His crucifixion, often called His high priestly prayer. In this chapter, Jesus prays for Himself, for His disciples, and for all future believers. Verse 24 is the concluding petition, where Jesus focuses on those the Father has given Him, expressing His desire for their presence and their privilege of seeing His glory.

Jesus addresses God as “Father,” highlighting the intimate relationship and unity between them. This title also emphasizes Jesus’ submission to the Father’s will, as He makes His request in the context of His intercessory ministry.

Meaning

Jesus acknowledges that believers are a gift from the Father. In His earthly ministry, He was given a group of followers whom He nurtured, taught, and prepared for their mission. This gift demonstrates God’s love and sovereignty in bringing people to Jesus.

Jesus desires that those given to Him would be with Him where He is. This goes beyond physical presence and implies a deep spiritual union and fellowship with Christ. It expresses the longing for believers to experience the fullness of communion with Jesus, both in this life and in eternity. The word “will” in the King James Version indicates a strong desire or request, not a demand.

Jesus also desires that believers would behold His glory. This glory encompasses His divine attributes, majesty, and splendor, including His redemptive work, resurrection, ascension, and exaltation at the Father’s right hand. Through faith in Christ, believers are granted the privilege of witnessing and experiencing His glory.

Biblical connections

The glory Jesus mentions is the glory of the incarnate Son, as seen in John 1:14, and being with Jesus is the promised reward for those who serve Him, as stated in John 12:26. These passages reinforce that the glory believers behold is the same glory revealed in Christ’s earthly life and exaltation.

Application

This verse assures believers that their ultimate hope is to be with Christ and to share in His glory. It also reveals the Father’s love for the Son before creation, which is the foundation of the believers’ inclusion in that love. The prayer of Jesus is not a command to believers but a promise of what awaits them.

Reflection

Jesus’ prayer reveals the eternal love between the Father and the Son, a love that existed before the foundation of the world. This love is the basis for the glory given to the Son and for the believers’ future participation in that glory. It invites believers to rest in the certainty of Christ’s intercession and the hope of eternal communion with Him.