JOHN 17:20–26
“THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE”: JESUS PRAYS FOR ALL BELIEVERS
BRIEF INTERPRETATION
Text – John 17:20–26
20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21 so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.
22 And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one,
23 I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.
24 Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
26 I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
Historical and Jewish Context
Intercessory prayer for future generations was a known feature in Jewish tradition, especially in covenantal blessings where the faith of Israel extended beyond the present community. Jesus’ prayer moves beyond the immediate circle of disciples to include all future believers, forming a single people of God across time. The language of unity reflects Israel’s vocation to be one people under one God, now fulfilled and universalized in Christ.
Catholic Theological Perspective
This passage is the summit of the High Priestly Prayer. Catholic theology teaches that the unity for which Jesus prays is not merely moral agreement but a profound spiritual communion rooted in the life of the Trinity. This unity is both a gift and a task, essential for the credibility of the Church’s mission. The glory shared with believers is participation in divine life through grace. Christ’s desire that believers be with Him reveals the ultimate goal of salvation: eternal communion with God, lived now in love and fulfilled in glory.
Parallels in Scripture
Psalm 133 – The blessing of unity.
Ezekiel 37:24–28 – One people under one shepherd.
Acts 4:32 – One heart and mind among believers.
Ephesians 4:4–6 – One body, one Spirit.
1 John 4:16 – Abiding in love.
Key Terms
All who believe – The universal Church.
One – Unity rooted in the Trinity.
Glory – Participation in divine life.
Loved as you loved me – Radical dignity of believers.
I in them – Indwelling of Christ.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This Gospel is proclaimed during the Easter season, especially near the Ascension. The Church reflects on unity, mission, and love as essential marks of authentic Christian life and witness.
Conclusion
John 17:20–26 reveals the heart of Jesus for the Church of every age. He prays for unity rooted in divine love, a unity that reveals God to the world and draws believers into eternal communion with Him.
Reflection
How do I contribute to unity within the Body of Christ?
Do my words and actions help the world believe?
Am I living in the awareness of being loved by God as His child?
Prayer
Righteous Father, draw all believers into the unity Your Son desired. Heal divisions, deepen love, and let Christ dwell within us, so that the world may believe and all may share in Your glory. Amen.
DETAILED INTERPRETATION
INTRODUCTION
In the final movement of His high priestly prayer, Jesus widens His gaze beyond the immediate circle of disciples to embrace all who will believe through their word. This prayer reaches across time and history, drawing future generations into the intimate dialogue between the Son and the Father. Jesus prays not only for continuity of faith, but for a profound unity rooted in divine communion itself.
The unity Jesus desires is modeled on the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son. It is not merely organizational or functional, but spiritual and relational. By inviting believers into this unity, Jesus reveals the ultimate purpose of His mission: that humanity may share in the life and love of God, and that the world may come to believe through the visible communion of those who belong to Him.
John 17:20 – “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”
Interpretation
This verse marks a profound expansion of Jesus’ priestly prayer. His intercession now reaches beyond the immediate circle of disciples to include all future believers across time and history.
“I pray not only for them” affirms Jesus’ continued concern for the apostles, but signals that His vision extends further. The prayer widens without diminishing its depth.
“But also for those who will believe in me” reveals the forward-looking horizon of salvation. Jesus explicitly includes future generations—those who have not yet heard, but who will come to faith.
“Through their word” identifies the means of transmission. Faith will spread not through spectacle or force, but through testimony. The apostolic word becomes the bridge by which Christ reaches future believers.
Theologically, this verse reveals the continuity of the Church. Apostolic witness is not confined to the first generation; it becomes the living channel of faith for all who follow.
For believers, this verse offers profound assurance. Each Christian is personally included in Jesus’ prayer. Faith is never solitary; it is received through the Church’s living witness.
Historical and Jewish Context
In biblical tradition, covenant promises often extended to future generations (cf. Gn 17:7). Jesus now explicitly includes future believers within His saving intercession.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that apostolic preaching and tradition transmit faith across generations. Christ’s prayer sustains the Church’s mission and unity through the word handed on (cf. CCC 75, 858, 2635).
Key Terms
Pray — intercession of Christ
Believe — faith received and lived
Through their word — apostolic testimony
Those who will — future generations of believers
Conclusion
John 17:20 reveals the universal reach of Jesus’ prayer. All who come to faith through apostolic witness are embraced within His intercession.
Reflection
Do I recognize my faith as a gift received through the witness of others, and do I contribute faithfully to handing it on?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for praying for me even before I believed. Strengthen my faith, and help me to bear faithful witness, so that others too may come to believe through the word You have entrusted to Your Church. Amen.
John 17:21 – “So that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.”
Interpretation
This verse reveals the central intention of Jesus’ prayer for all believers: unity rooted in divine communion and ordered toward mission.
“So that they may all be one” expresses Jesus’ deepest desire for His disciples across all generations. This unity is not uniformity or mere agreement, but a profound communion of life and love.
“As you, Father, are in me and I in you” sets the measure of this unity. The model is not human association, but the intimate, living communion of Father and Son. Christian unity finds its source and pattern in the inner life of God.
“That they also may be in us” reveals the astonishing invitation at the heart of salvation. Believers are not only united with one another; they are drawn into communion with the Father and the Son. Unity is participation in divine life.
“That the world may believe that you sent me” discloses the missionary purpose of unity. Unity is not an end in itself. It becomes a visible sign that authenticates the truth of Christ’s mission. Division obscures witness; communion reveals Christ.
Theologically, this verse unites ecclesiology, Trinity, and mission. The Church’s unity reflects God’s own life and becomes the means by which the world encounters the truth of Jesus.
For believers, this verse is both gift and responsibility. Unity is prayed for by Christ and entrusted to His followers to live, protect, and deepen.
Historical and Jewish Context
In Scripture, Israel’s unity was meant to witness to the one true God among the nations (cf. Dt 6:4–6). Jesus now universalizes this vocation, grounding unity in Trinitarian communion.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that unity is a gift of God and a calling for believers. Christ’s prayer for unity underlies the Church’s commitment to communion, truth, and ecumenical effort (cf. CCC 813–815, 820).
Key Terms
One — communion rooted in divine life
In me / in you — Trinitarian indwelling
In us — participation in God’s life
World may believe — missionary witness of unity
Conclusion
John 17:21 reveals unity as the heart of Jesus’ prayer for the Church. Rooted in the Trinity, lived among believers, and directed toward mission, unity becomes a powerful sign of Christ’s truth.
Reflection
Do I actively seek unity in faith and love, recognizing it as essential to the Church’s witness to Christ?
Prayer
Father, draw us into the unity You share with Your Son. Heal divisions among Your people, deepen our communion, and let our oneness become a living testimony that Jesus is truly the One You have sent. Amen.
John 17:22 – “And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”
Interpretation
This verse deepens Jesus’ prayer for unity by revealing its source: shared glory. Unity among believers is not achieved by human effort alone, but by participation in the divine gift Christ has already bestowed.
“And I have given them the glory you gave me” is a startling declaration. Jesus shares with His disciples what He Himself received from the Father. This glory is not earthly honor, but divine life revealed through love, obedience, and self-giving.
The glory given is relational and transformative. It is the presence of God at work within believers, shaping them into a living reflection of Christ.
“So that they may be one” identifies the purpose of this gift. Glory is given not for individual exaltation, but for communion. Divine life draws believers together rather than setting them apart.
“As we are one” again establishes the measure. The unity of believers is patterned on the unity of Father and Son—not identical in nature, but real in communion, love, and purpose.
Theologically, this verse reveals that unity flows from shared participation in Christ’s life. Glory precedes unity; it is God’s gift that makes communion possible.
For believers, this verse offers both dignity and calling. To receive Christ’s glory is to be entrusted with the responsibility of living in unity that reflects God Himself.
Historical and Jewish Context
In the Scriptures, God’s glory dwelt among His people as the sign of covenant presence (cf. Ex 40:34). Jesus now reveals that this glory dwells within the community of believers.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that believers share in Christ’s glory through grace, especially in the sacraments, and that this shared life is meant to build unity in the Body of Christ (cf. CCC 460, 775, 1988).
Key Terms
Glory — participation in divine life
Given — gift received from Christ
One — communion rooted in grace
As we are one — Trinitarian model of unity
Conclusion
John 17:22 reveals that Christian unity is grounded in a gift already given. By sharing His glory, Christ enables believers to live in communion that reflects the unity of God Himself.
Reflection
Do I recognize unity as a gift flowing from Christ’s life within me, and do I live in a way that nurtures this communion?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You have shared Your glory with us. Help me to live from this gift, fostering unity, humility, and love, so that Your divine life may be clearly reflected in Your people. Amen.
John 17:23 – “I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.”
Interpretation
This verse brings Jesus’ prayer for unity to its fullest depth, revealing unity not only as harmony among believers, but as indwelling communion with God Himself.
“I in them and you in me” expresses the mystery of mutual indwelling. Christ lives within believers, and the Father lives within the Son. The unity of the Church flows directly from the life of the Trinity shared with humanity.
“That they may be brought to perfection as one” shows unity as a process moving toward fulfillment. Perfection here means completion or maturity. Unity grows as believers are drawn ever more deeply into divine communion.
“That the world may know that you sent me” reveals the missionary consequence. Unity is not private spirituality; it is public testimony. The world comes to recognize the truth of Jesus’ mission through the visible communion of His followers.
“And that you loved them even as you loved me” is the most astonishing affirmation. Jesus declares that the Father’s love for believers mirrors His love for the Son. This is not lesser or symbolic love, but real participation in divine love.
Theologically, this verse reveals salvation as participation in Trinitarian love. Unity, mission, and love are inseparable realities flowing from God’s own life.
For believers, this verse offers profound dignity and responsibility. To live in communion is to live as one loved by the Father with the love He has for His Son.
Historical and Jewish Context
In Scripture, God’s love for His chosen people was the sign of covenant identity (cf. Dt 7:7–8). Jesus now reveals that this covenant love reaches its fullness through union with Him.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that believers are drawn into the communion of the Trinity through Christ. This shared divine life calls the Church to visible unity and loving witness in the world (cf. CCC 460, 795, 850).
Key Terms
I in them / you in me — mutual indwelling
Perfection — mature, completed unity
World may know — missionary witness
Loved them — participation in divine love
Conclusion
John 17:23 reveals the summit of Jesus’ prayer. Unity is perfected through divine indwelling, becomes a witness to the world, and rests upon the astonishing truth that believers are loved as the Son is loved.
Reflection
Do I live with the awareness that I am loved by the Father with the very love He has for His Son?
Prayer
Father, You have loved us with immeasurable love through Your Son. Draw us into deeper communion with You and with one another, that our unity may witness to Your love and lead the world to believe. Amen.
John 17:24 – “Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”
Interpretation
This verse reveals the ultimate desire of Jesus’ heart: eternal communion. Having prayed for protection, consecration, unity, and witness, Jesus now prays for the final destiny of His disciples—to be with Him forever.
“Father, they are your gift to me” expresses profound tenderness. The disciples are not merely followers or servants; they are a gift exchanged in love between the Father and the Son. Their belonging is rooted in divine generosity.
“I wish that where I am they also may be with me” reveals Jesus’ longing for shared presence. Salvation reaches its fulfillment not simply in forgiveness or mission, but in being with Christ. Eternal life is communion, not distance.
“That they may see my glory that you gave me” identifies the content of this communion. To see Christ’s glory is to behold Him in His risen and exalted state, sharing in the joy of divine life revealed fully.
“Because you loved me before the foundation of the world” grounds everything in eternal love. The glory Christ shares is rooted in the Father’s timeless love for the Son. Believers are invited into this eternal love, not as outsiders, but as participants.
Theologically, this verse reveals heaven as participation in Trinitarian love. What Christ desires for His disciples is nothing less than sharing His eternal communion with the Father.
For believers, this verse offers immense hope. The final goal of faith is not merely survival or reward, but dwelling with Christ and beholding His glory forever.
Historical and Jewish Context
In Scripture, to “see God’s glory” was the ultimate hope, often only hinted at (cf. Ps 27:4). Jesus now reveals that this hope is fulfilled through union with Him.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of human life: perfect communion with the Holy Trinity, where believers see God face to face and share in Christ’s glory (cf. CCC 1023–1026, 2602).
Key Terms
Gift — believers entrusted in divine love
Where I am — eternal communion with Christ
Glory — divine life revealed and shared
Before the foundation — eternal love within the Trinity
Conclusion
John 17:24 opens a window into Jesus’ deepest desire. He wills that those given to Him may be with Him forever, sharing in the glory born of eternal love.
Reflection
Do I live my faith oriented toward being with Christ and sharing in His glory, or do I settle for lesser hopes?
Prayer
Father, You have loved Your Son from all eternity and have given us to Him. Draw me ever closer to Christ, that one day I may be with Him where He is and behold His glory forever. Amen.
John 17:25 – “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me.”
Interpretation
This verse contrasts knowledge born of communion with ignorance rooted in separation. Jesus addresses the Father with solemn intimacy and identifies the decisive divide between the world and true discipleship.
“Righteous Father” is a profound form of address. Jesus invokes the Father’s righteousness—His faithfulness, justice, and truth—as the foundation of His prayer. God’s righteousness guarantees that truth will ultimately prevail.
“The world does not know you” states the tragedy of estrangement. The world, ordered apart from God, fails to recognize the Father because it resists revelation. Ignorance here is not lack of information, but refusal of relationship.
“But I know you” affirms perfect communion. Jesus’ knowledge of the Father is immediate, eternal, and complete. He stands as the unique revealer because He lives in uninterrupted intimacy with the Father.
“And they know that you sent me” identifies the disciples’ decisive distinction. They may not know everything, but they know what matters most: that Jesus is sent by the Father. This recognition places them within the sphere of truth and salvation.
Theologically, this verse reveals that true knowledge of God comes through the Son. Knowing the Father and believing in the One He sent are inseparable realities.
For believers, this verse offers clarity and assurance. Faith does not depend on worldly recognition but on knowing Christ as the One sent from the Father.
Historical and Jewish Context
In Scripture, knowing God is the mark of covenant fidelity, while ignorance of God signals estrangement (cf. Hos 4:1). Jesus now reveals Himself as the decisive point of knowing God truly.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Jesus Christ uniquely reveals the Father. Faith in Christ leads to true knowledge of God, while rejection of the Son results in blindness to the Father (cf. CCC 65, 240, 425).
Key Terms
Righteous — faithful and true
Know — relational, covenantal knowledge
World — humanity closed to revelation
Sent — divine mission of Christ
Conclusion
John 17:25 reveals the dividing line of faith. The world does not know the Father, but those who recognize Jesus as the One sent by God enter into true knowledge and communion.
Reflection
Do I live my faith grounded in knowing Christ as the One sent by the Father, even when the world does not recognize Him?
Prayer
Righteous Father, I thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Son. Keep me rooted in true knowledge of You, faithful to Christ whom You have sent, and steadfast in faith amid a world that does not know You. Amen.
John 17:26 – “I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Interpretation
This verse brings Jesus’ great priestly prayer to a luminous conclusion. It gathers revelation, love, and indwelling into a single promise that extends beyond the present moment into the future life of the Church.
“I made known to them your name” recalls Jesus’ completed work of revelation. To make God’s name known is to reveal His true identity—His mercy, faithfulness, and saving love. Jesus has already accomplished this through His life, teaching, and self-gift.
“And I will make it known” points forward. Revelation does not end with Jesus’ earthly ministry. Through the Resurrection, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the life of the Church, Christ continues to make the Father known across time.
“That the love with which you loved me may be in them” reveals the ultimate purpose of revelation. Knowledge of God is ordered toward love. The very love that flows eternally between Father and Son is to dwell within believers.
“And I in them” completes the mystery. Christ Himself abides within those who believe. Divine love is not merely bestowed externally; it becomes an interior presence through union with Christ.
Theologically, this verse reveals salvation as indwelling communion. Revelation leads to love, love leads to union, and union leads to participation in Trinitarian life.
For believers, this verse offers the deepest assurance of Christian identity. Faith is not only believing truths about God, but living from God’s love dwelling within.
Historical and Jewish Context
In Scripture, God’s name dwelt among His people as a sign of covenant presence (cf. Dt 12:5). Jesus now reveals that God’s presence dwells within believers through love and communion.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that through Christ and the Holy Spirit, believers are drawn into the love of the Trinity. God’s love is poured into hearts, and Christ truly dwells within the faithful (cf. CCC 733, 735, 2602).
Key Terms
Made known — completed and ongoing revelation
Name — God’s revealed identity and presence
Love — Trinitarian love shared with believers
I in them — indwelling of Christ
Conclusion
John 17:26 brings Jesus’ prayer to its summit. Revelation culminates in love, and love culminates in union. The Father’s love, the Son’s presence, and the believer’s life are drawn into one communion.
Reflection
Do I live with the awareness that Christ dwells within me and that the Father’s love is meant to shape my entire life?
Prayer
Father of love, You have made Yourself known through Your Son and continue to reveal Your love to us. Let the love with which You love Your Son dwell in my heart, and let Christ live in me, now and always. Amen.
CONCLUSION
Jesus grounds this unity in glory and love. The glory He has received from the Father is now shared with believers, enabling them to live in communion with one another. This shared glory is not earthly honor but participation in divine life. Love becomes both the source and the sign of unity, reflecting the love with which the Father has loved the Son from before the foundation of the world.
The prayer concludes with a vision of fulfillment. Jesus desires that His followers be with Him where He is, sharing fully in His glory. Unity, love, and destiny are woven together into a single hope. For the Church, this prayer remains a living call to communion, reconciliation, and faithful witness. United in Christ, believers become a sign to the world that God’s love is real, active, and saving.
PRAYER
Father of everlasting love, Your Son prayed that all who believe may be one as He is one with You. Draw us into deeper unity through truth, charity, and humility. Heal divisions among us and make our communion a living witness to Your love. May we share in the glory given to Christ and dwell always in the love with which You have loved Him, now and forever. Amen.