This chapter begins the priestly prayer of Jesus. Jesus asked the Father to glorify him! Since this was the prayer of Jesus, this was the will of the Father. Does the Father want to glorify us too?

Yes of course! We are his adopted children. As such, we are co-heirs with Jesus. As co-heirs, we are entitled to all Jesus has, as long as we share in his sufferings. This is also what the Father wants for us. He wants to bless us, he wants to glorify us and he wants to give us eternal life.

The Father gave Jesus authority over all flesh. Because of his authority, Jesus is able to give eternal life. Jesus defines eternal life as “knowing the One True God and Jesus Christ”. Eternal life is having an intimate relationship with Jesus and his Father.

Jesus spoke in the past tense. “I glorified you and have accomplished the work you have given me to do.” When Jesus had done what the Father wanted, he could ask for anything. And he asked BIG TIME “Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.” Jesus asked his Father to glorify him infinitely!

With this prayer, Jesus showed us how to ask in prayer: we need to ask BIG! Do not be content with asking for small things. Ask the Father for great and wonderful things! Since, as St. Paul said, “Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him” (2 Corinthians 2:9). God has planned something for us since the beginning. We can ask the Father to fulfill what he has planned for us. This is something that is beyond what we can ever dream of and imagine!

Jesus did not want anyone to glorify him. He wanted the Father to glorify him. This is also what we should ask. To ask for anything less is to cheat ourselves. We should not settle for anything less!

Belong to Jesus

Jesus reveals the Father to those whom the Father has given him. Those the Father gave to Jesus belong to Jesus.

Those who belong to Jesus obey the Father. They know the Father is above all things and he has given all these to Jesus. They also receive the word given by the Father. They nurture it and make it part of their lives. Because of this, they know, without doubt, Jesus came from the Father and he is one with the Father. They believe the Father sent Jesus to redeem the world.

Why did Jesus pray only for those who belong to him and not for everyone? Those who belong to the Father need protection from the world. Those who do not belong to the Father do not need protection. The enemy aims to take back those who used to belong to him and now belong to the Father.

Life is a battle between good and evil, between God and Satan. For those who choose God, God is faithful. However, Satan will do everything to deceive them. It is not a question of who one chooses, but of discerning whose voice one is following. Those in Jesus will never consciously choose to follow the voice of the enemy. They will choose to follow God. However, there is nothing to prevent the enemy from trying to deceive them. This is why Jesus prayed for them.

Unity

Those who belong to the Father glorify him. Jesus prayed for their unity. Not any kind of unity, but to be united perfectly as he is united with the Father. Unity here means to be of the same mind. Jesus submitted to the Father. For the Church to be united, every member has to have the same mind as Jesus - to do the Father's will.

When he was with the disciples, Jesus was the uniting force. He protected them from harm. This is the source of joy for those who belong to Jesus. This is no ordinary joy, it is a full, complete and perfect joy. Knowing Jesus protects us. Jesus has given us his word. This word protects us.

We are not meant to withdraw from the world. We are meant to be in the world. This is why Jesus prayed that the Father may protect us from the Evil One. We are sanctified, that means separated, from the world by the truth. Those in Jesus are in the world. They are not called to be OF the world. They are to act apart from the world; to be counter-cultural so they can truly give glory to the Father.

This life is possible only through the word of God. God's word is the truth. Jesus sends us as the Father sent him - into the world. Jesus has shown how he separated himself from the world. We learn from Jesus. We are separated from the world by the truth as revealed by God.

Jesus now shifted his focus to those who will believe because of the apostles. The oneness of the believers in Jesus will make the world believe the Father sent him. Jesus gave the same glory he received from the Father to those who belong to him - for the purpose of these being united in one will.

The Same Glory as Jesus

This is an amazing thought. We receive the same glory Jesus received from the Father. This is an infinite glory! The intention of this is so the world may know the Father sent Jesus and he loves those who belong to him - just as he loves Jesus!

The people whom Jesus prayed for were those who belong to him and not those who believe in him. There seems to be a difference between believing in Jesus and belonging to Jesus. Believing in Jesus is the start. It allows access to eternal life.

To belong to Jesus is to share his glory! Those who belong to Jesus have fellowship with him. The Samaritan town I Chapter 4 believed in Jesus - so they came to him. But the disciples belonged to Jesus because they had a deeper relationship with him.

Believing is the first step. Belonging is the completion or perfection of that first step. When one belongs to Jesus, one is “owned” by Jesus and therefore, is under his protection.

Jesus wants us to be with him, so we can see his glory. The Father sent Jesus. He loved Jesus since the beginning. Jesus knows the Father infinitely. Those who belong to Jesus know the Father sent Jesus. Jesus revealed his Father to those who belong to him so we may have the love of the Father through Jesus.