New Testament · Gospel

John 17:24

Jesus Prays

Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

John 17:24, in plain English

Jesus prays: 'Father, I want them to be with me and see my glory—the glory you gave me because you loved me before the world began.'

Why it's here

This is Jesus' deepest desire for you: to be with Him forever and to see Him as He truly is. He wants to share His glory with you eternally.

Who's speaking

Jesus prays with longing for your eternal future with Him.

Where it sits in the story

Of all the things Jesus could ask for, this is what He wants most: you, with Him, forever, seeing His glory. That's the heartbeat of this prayer.

A Closer Look

The scholar's commentary

Jesus expresses His desire that all whom the Father has given Him will ultimately be with Him to behold His pre-temporal glory, rooted in the Father's eternal love.

Language and setting

The verb 'thelo' (I desire/want) carries a note of regal authority rather than mere wish. 'Before the foundation of the world' (pro kataboles kosmou) affirms the eternal love relationship within the Godhead predating creation.

Voice

Jesus makes His final petition for believers' eternal destiny.

Significance

Jesus expresses the deepest longing of His heart: to have His people with Him forever, sharing in the vision of His eternal glory—glory born from the Father's love before time began.

In context

John 17:22–26

22I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one—

23I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.

24Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

25Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.

26And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Read all of John 17 — You get to overhear Jesus praying to the Father. He prays for His disciples — and then He prays for you.

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