Jn 17:1-11a
Give glory to your son: This is the Lord’s high-priestly prayer in which he is simultaneously priest and victim. It is also a prayer of consecration on behalf of those for whom the sacrifice is offered—the disciples and all who will come to faith through their testimony. After holding communion with his disciples, Jesus now holds communion with his Father on their behalf. While this is his prayer of consecration in view of his impending sacrifice on the cross, he at the same time accepts the sacrifice. As high priest, he is engaged on their behalf at the Father’s right hand.
Give glory to your son: This is the Lord’s high-priestly prayer in which he is simultaneously priest and victim. It is also a prayer of consecration on behalf of those for whom the sacrifice is offered—the disciples and all who will come to faith through their testimony. After holding communion with his disciples, Jesus now holds communion with his Father on their behalf. While this is his prayer of consecration in view of his impending sacrifice on the cross, he at the same time accepts the sacrifice. As high priest, he is engaged on their behalf at the Father’s right hand.
By his own testimony, his hour has come: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (Jn 12:23). Now he prays that he may indeed be glorified by the Father. He prays that he may accept the cross, the vehicle of that glory, so that he can give glory to the Father in turn. He will glorify the Father by doing his will, by enduring the cross, and by fulfilling the Father’s purpose of blessing for many by means of that cross.