Commentary on the Gospel of St. John (Volume 3); With a Critical Introduction Translated from the Second French Ed. of F. Godet

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881. Excerpt: ... THIRD SECTION. XVII. 1-26. THE PRAYER. It was with a shout of triumph that Jesus concluded His conversations with His disciples; but this triumph was an anticipation of faith. To transform the present reality into victory, nothing less than God's omnipotence was needed. And to this Jesus appeals. This prayer is generally divided into three parts: first, prayer for Himself (w. 1-5); secondly, prayer for His apostles (w. 6-19); and thirdly, prayer for the church (w. 20-26). But when Jesus prayed for Himself, He had in view not His own person, but the work of God (w. 1, 2); when He prayed for the apostles, it was as the instruments and continuers of this same work; and when He commended to God believers present and future, it was as the objects of that work, and because their souls were to be the theatre on which the Father's glory was to be displayed. The framework of the prayer is indeed that indicated by the generally received division, but the leading thought which unifies it is the Father's work, or, which comes to the same thing, the glory of God. This prayer of Jesus is throughout inspired by His mission and His filial affection. He thanks God for what has already been given Him to do for His cause, and asks for the more effectual means which are henceforth indispensable to the completion of the work now begun. This prayer is more than a mere meditation. Jesus had acted (ch. xiii.) and spoken (chs. xiv.-xvi.); He now used that language which is at the same time action: He prayed. But He not only prayed, He prayed aloud; which proves that while speaking to God, He was also speaking for those around Him. He desired to initiate them into that close communion which He maintained with His Father, and, if possible, to lead them to pray with Him. It is an an...