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Easter Season · Sixth Sunday of Easter · Year B

John 17:11b-19

Jesus Prays for Himself

May 2, 2027

La Priere Sacerdotale (The Priestly Prayer), Eugene Burnand
La Priere Sacerdotale (The Priestly Prayer), Eugene Burnand, early 20th centuryWikimedia Commons
A Swiss painter best known for the disciples running to the tomb, here painting the prayer in the upper room with the faces doing the work.I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.Eugene BurnandA Swiss painter whose Disciples Running to the Tomb is among the most reproduced religious paintings of its century.Wikimedia CommonsNo holding institution is recorded with the image; it is known from the public domain reproduction.Wikimedia Commons
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 15:9-17Jn 15:9-17Alt. GospelJohn 17:11b-19Jn 17:11b-19
Second Reading1 John 4:7-101 Jn 4:7-10Alt. 2nd Reading1 John 4:11-161 Jn 4:11-16
First ReadingActs 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Responsorial PsalmPs. 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 (2b)Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 (2b)

Overview & Insights

“Holy Father, keep them in your name... Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:11, 17)

If chapters 15–17 are viewed as an expansion in reverse order of the three pronouncements found in 13:31–35, then chapter 17 is built on Jesus’ solemn reference to glorification in 13:31–32. Glorification is at any rate the theme of verses 1–5. In verse 1, Jesus prays, Father, … Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you . In verse 5, he prays again, And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began . Superficially, it appears that these two petitions frame the first major division of the prayer. On this assumption, many commentators divide the prayer into four parts: Jesus’ petition for his own glorification (vv. 1–5), his petitions for his disciples gathered around him to hear his last words (vv. 6–19), his petitions for later generations of believers (vv. 20–23), and his concluding petitions for a final reunion with his loved ones (vv. 24–26).

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Commentary

Commentary on John 17:6-19Commentary on Jn 17:6-19 Working Preacher

Lectionary commentary on Jesus's prayer for the protection and sanctification of his disciples.

John 17 CommentaryJn 17 Commentary Enduring Word

Verse-by-verse commentary on Jesus's high priestly prayer.

John 17:6-19 CommentaryJn 17:6-19 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on Jesus praying for his disciples before the hour of his passion.

John 17 CommentaryJn 17 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed study notes on Jesus's prayer of consecration for his disciples.

John 17 - Haydock Commentary OnlineJn 17 - Haydock Commentary Online Haydock

Catholic verse-by-verse commentary on the high priestly prayer.

Background & Word Study

John 17 parallel commentariesJn 17 parallel commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated interlinear and commentary tools for word-level study of the chapter.

Commentary on John 17 by Matthew HenryCommentary on Jn 17 by Mt Henry Blue Letter Bible

Classic exposition for background reading on the chapter.

The Church Fathers

John 17:11Jn 17:11 Catena Bible

Passage-keyed patristic commentary on Jesus's prayer that the disciples be kept in the Father's name.

Tractate 106 on the Gospel of John (Augustine)Tractate 106 on the Gospel of Jn (Augustine) New Advent

Augustine's patristic exposition of Christ's high priestly prayer.

Podcast

Bishop Barron: Hints of the Holy Spirit Word on Fire

Bishop Barron preaches this Sunday’s Mass readings, including John 17:11b-19.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

A curated image index for this reading across the history of Christian art.

Study Hub

Mass Readings Explained: The Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year B Catholic Productions

Catholic study of the Sunday's readings on Christ's prayer for unity and protection.

Barnes' Notes on John 17Barnes' Notes on Jn 17 StudyLight

Classic verse-by-verse notes on the chapter, useful for close reading.

Questions preachers ask

What is the High Priestly Prayer?

On the night before his death Jesus prays for his disciples, that the Father would keep them, guard them from the evil one, and sanctify them in the truth as he sends them into the world.

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