“Real life and glory come from knowing God and living out the purpose He gave you.”

OBJECTIVE:

• John 17:1-5

EXPLORE:

(These are different commentary notes that can be used to explain the context to our students. Feel free to use your own.)

Context / Background / History

Introduction 

• In John 17, we get a unique look at Jesus’ heart through His longest recorded prayer in the Gospels.
• Unlike other famous prayers in the Bible, this one shows Jesus’ deep focus on God’s glory, His mission, and His love for His followers.
• This prayer emphasizes key themes from John’s Gospel: glory, belief, the world, and God’s love.
• Jesus’ prayer isn’t Him trying to convince God, but revealing the purpose and unity of God’s plan. It also points to His ongoing intercession for believers.

Looking Toward Heaven

• Jesus physically lifts His eyes to heaven, a posture of hope and faith.
• His focus is on God’s purposes rather than His own struggles.
• The prayer shows His complete trust in the Father and His concern for eternal life for others.

Asking to Be Glorified 

• “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.”
• The “hour” refers to His upcoming death, resurrection, and ascension.
• Jesus’ request is not selfish; by being glorified, He can fully honor the Father.
• What the world sees as weakness (the cross) is actually the ultimate display of God’s glory.

Eternal Life Explained 

• Jesus has authority to give eternal life to those the Father has given Him.
• Eternal life is more than living forever, it’s knowing God personally, experiencing a real relationship with Him.
• This relationship transforms how we live and how we interact with the world.

Completing His Mission 

• Jesus glorified the Father through His whole life.
• He asks to be restored to the glory He shared with the Father before the world began, showing His pre-existence and equality with God.
• His life, death, and resurrection reveal God’s wisdom, power, and love.

Takeaways for Students:

• Jesus models prayer - Before the cross, Jesus prays. Prayer is His first response, not His last resort.
• Glory belongs to God - Jesus’ mission was to glorify the Father, not Himself. Our lives should point back to God.
• Eternal life is knowing God - Eternal life isn’t just about heaven later, but about a real relationship with God now.
• Trust God’s timing - Jesus says, “The hour has come.” God has a perfect timing for everything in our lives.
• Purpose over popularity - Jesus stayed faithful to His mission, even when the world rejected Him. We’re called to do the same.
• Glory through obedience - The greatest glory is found in finishing what God has given us to do.

STUDENT RESOURCES:

• Youtube Video - John 17 Spoken Word

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: 

Scripture (S)

• Read together! Encourage students to highlight or make note of anything that stands out to them. 
• What details stood out to you in this passage that you hadn’t noticed before?

Observation (O)

• What do you notice about the way Jesus talks to the Father?
• Why do you think Jesus asks to be glorified? What does that mean in this context?
• How does Jesus connect eternal life to knowing God and Jesus Himself?
• What do these verses reveal about Jesus’ relationship with the Father?

Application (A)

• Jesus lived for God’s glory, not His own. In what ways are we tempted to live for our own recognition instead of God’s?
• Eternal life isn’t just about “going to heaven” later it’s also about knowing God right now. What steps can you take to grow in that relationship this week?
• How might trusting God’s glory and plan change the way you face challenges, disappointments, or pressures from the world?

Prayer (P)

• Invite students to pray for each other to live for God’s glory above their own.
• Encourage them to surrender specific areas where they’ve been seeking approval, recognition, or control.
• Pray together that they would experience eternal life as Jesus describes it: an ongoing, real relationship with Him.