2BC BIBLE STUDY NOTES
Wednesday in the Word
Second Baptist Church
March 25, 2026
John 16:13-17:1-5
We pick up where we left off with Jesus sharing with his disciples the things they should know concerning his departure. Jesus shares some things that they find hard to understand. The conversation that Jesus had with his disciples is concerning the future. Jesus spoke of things that will happen letting his disciples know what they should do when certain things happen. Most of what Jesus says to the disciples they don't understand. Jesus shared with them these things so later they can remember what he said and realize that he knew the future. When they realize that he knew the future they will believe he is really the Christ. The disciples had to learn that Jesus knew the future and in fact he determines the future. The disciples had to learn this, we have the benefit of hindsight and now know that Jesus holds the future. We should be even more confident that Jesus will take care of us.
Verses 16-18. He tells them that in a little while they will not see him, but after a little while they will see him again. Where is he going, they wonder? And what does he mean he is going to the father? The disciples were confused about the meaning of Jesus' words. Jesus was talking about his death, burial, resurrection, ascension to heaven, and future return.
Verses 19-22. Jesus responds to the questions that the disciples were asking one another by informing them of the difficulties they would have to face soon. Jesus tells them that they would soon weep and mourn. Their weeping would be because of his death. They would mourn what they would consider a loss of their leader. On the other hand, the world, those that wanted Jesus dead, would rejoice over his death. After saying this Jesus encourages his disciples that their sorrow would transform into joy. Jesus uses the analogy of a woman giving birth. The birth is painful, but after the pain of the delivery comes the joy of seeing the new child. Jesus tells his disciples that they will grieve when he is gone, but shortly after that their grief would turn to joy because they would see him again. The disciples had no idea Jesus was talking about his resurrection.
Verses 23-24. Jesus continues to tell his disciples that on this day when sorrow turns to joy they will have a new relationship with God that will allow them to pray directly to the Father in Heaven. Jesus informs his disciples that his leaving will allow for a new relationship to develop between God and the disciples of Jesus.
Verses 25-28. Jesus tells his disciples that he has been talking figuratively but soon he would speak plainly to them. He tells them that they will be able to pray directly to God like a son could speak to his father (Matthew 27:51 Hebrews 10:19-25). Jesus also tells them simply, that he came from God and is going back to God. He basically tells them that he will die.
Verses 29-30. The disciples respond by saying now that they understand what he was saying because he spoke to them plainly now. The disciples really don't know what Jesus is talking about, but they don't want to ask any more questions. Have you ever told someone you understand something when you really didn't? The disciples say they understand and believe, but they really don't.
Verses 31-32. Jesus knows that they don't really believe, but they will when all the dust settles. Jesus tells them that when the time is right, they will scatter in fear and abandon the Savior. Their scattering will be a sign of their fear instead of faith. Their scattering will be a sign that they really didn't believe like they said they did. Many Christians make bold declarations of faith only to find themselves wavering in their faith when difficult times come. Talk is cheap when it comes down to faith. Jesus knows his disciples are weak in their faith, but he knows that after his resurrection they will be strong in the faith. Jesus tells the disciples that it doesn't matter that they will abandon him because he will be comforted by the father.
Verse 33. Jesus concludes his statements with words of comfort. He tells the disciples that they will face many troubles in the next few days, but they should be at peace because he has overcome the world. Their peace will come when they realize he has risen from the dead. When they see he has power of death, hell and the grave, they will find a peace that goes beyond all comprehension. The disciples had to wait for that peace, but we can have that peace now.
Chapter 17. Jesus goes from speaking to his disciples to praying to the father. Jesus will pray for himself, his disciples, and all future believers. This is considered the High Priestly prayer. Exodus 28. When the high priest would get ready to enter the Holy of Holies, he would put on a grand garment that would exalt him in the eyes of the people. On his garments were symbols that represented the people of God. These symbols were to remind the priest to always intercede on behalf of the people while in the presence of God.
John 17 contains the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in any of the Gospels. As the Last Supper draws to a close Jesus prays to God the Father for Himself and as the intercessor on behalf of His disciples. In the Old Covenant, it was the High Priest who offered the bloody sacrifice to Yahweh on His sacred altar and whose responsibility it was to serve the covenant people as God's representative and the people's intercessor. Now, in the New Covenant order, it is Jesus Himself who is offering both the sacrifice of His passion and death and His intercession on behalf of His disciples to God the Father (see Hebrews 5:7-10 and Romans 8:34). Jesus prays this after He finishes His final instructions to the disciples and before He is betrayed, arrested, and crucified. First, Jesus prays for Himself, then He prays for His disciples, and He closes the prayer by praying for all believers. This intercessory prayer is commonly called Jesus' High Priestly Prayer. Jesus' prayer isn't a random collection of requests. It unfolds in three distinct movements, each building on the one before. He begins with His unique relationship with the Father, then turns His attention to the small band of disciples right there with Him, and finally, He expands His prayer to embrace all future believers across all time.
Verses 1-5. The High Priestly Prayer begins with one of the most stunning requests in all of Scripture: "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you" (John 17:1, ESV). This is not a plea for personal honor or earthly acclaim. Not at all. It is a solemn declaration that the very purpose of Jesus's life—the cross—has finally arrived. Jesus makes one request for himself, that he would be glorified. It is helpful to know that Jesus felt the need to pray for himself. In his human form he left nothing to chance. If he prayed for himself and he was the Christ, how much more should we pray for ourselves. There is one word that dominates Jesus' prayer for Himself in verses 1-5—glory. It occurs in some form five times in these verses. Initially, it seems unfitting for Jesus to pray that He might receive glory for Himself. Looking more closely we find there are several observations concerning this request for glory which put the matter in a different light. Jesus requested that He be glorified to bring further glory to the Father. Jesus' petition was not to receive glory independently from the Father, but to be glorified to the praise of the Father. Jesus prays that he would be glorified on the very thing that the Jews saw as shameful, the cross. His shame would be his glory. By his death he would be exalted back to his former place of Glory sitting at the right hand of the father. Jesus also teaches us that the way to have eternal life is to know God and his son. (Phil 2:1-11). Jesus now states that he has glorified the Father on earth by completing the work which the Father had given him to do. The idea of Jesus being sent into the world on a mission has been mentioned before, significantly in 3:17. It was even alluded to in the immediately preceding verse here (17:3). The completion of the "work" the Father had sent him to accomplish was mentioned by Jesus in 4:34 and 5:36. What is the nature of the "work" the Father has given the Son to accomplish? It involves the Son's mission to be the Saviour of the world, as 3:17 indicates. But this is accomplished specifically through Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross (a thought implied by the reference to the Father "giving" the Son in 3:16). It is not without significance that Jesus' last word from the cross it is (done) completed" (19:30). Jesus can thus speak prophetically, as if his work (including even the work of the cross) is already completed, since the "hour" has already come and his departure is at hand.
Verses 6-8. Jesus acknowledges the disciples as God's gift to Him. He has faithfully taught and guided them, and they have responded with obedience to God's Word. Their relationship with Him reflects God's initiative in choosing and sustaining His followers. This verse emphasizes God's active role in calling and preserving His people. The disciples' obedience is evidence of God's work within them, showing that faithfulness is both a gift and a responsibility. Jesus highlights the importance of remaining steadfast in God's truth amid a world that often opposes it. The disciples recognize the divine origin of Jesus' teachings, miracles, and authority.
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