Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Christ's prayer isn't just a request for believers to see His glory, but to experience it alongside Him. This "beholding" implies active participation and enjoyment, a sharing in the very glory the Father bestowed on Him. This desire is rooted in God's foundational, eternal love for the Son, demonstrating that our ultimate destiny is intimately bound to Christ's own exaltation.
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is concluding his prayer for his disciples, which began earlier in chapter 17. Having prayed for their sanctification and protection, he now expresses his deep desire for their ultimate union with him in glory. He shifts from interceding for them in their earthly mission to anticipating their heavenly future, a desire rooted in the Father's eternal love for him.
Jesus uses the strong word 'will' when praying to His Father. What does this tell us about His relationship with God and the nature of His requests?
In John 17:24, Jesus shifts from 'I ask' (erōtō) to 'I will' (thelō). This isn't a demand, but an expression of deep, loving desire rooted in His unique relationship as the Son. It reflects His perfect unity with the Father's will. Think of it like a child who knows their parent’s heart so well that their desire is essentially the same as their parent's. Jesus is confident that His will aligns with the Father's, especially concerning the eternal destiny of those given to Him.
Jesus prays that believers will 'behold my glory.' What kind of glory is this, and what does it mean for us to 'behold' it?
The 'glory' Jesus speaks of isn't just a distant spectacle; it's the radiance and honor the Father has given Him, particularly as the exalted Son. It's the glory of His completed work, His victory over sin and death, and His reign at the Father's right hand. To 'behold' this glory means more than just seeing; it implies participation, enjoyment, and even transformation. We won't just be spectators; we will share in that glory, reflecting His image more fully, much like Moses's face shone after encountering God.
Jesus grounds His desire for our fellowship and glory in the Father's love for Him 'before the foundation of the world.' Why is this eternal love so crucial?
The phrase 'before the foundation of the world' points to the eternal, pre-existent relationship between the Father and the Son. The Father's profound love for Jesus, not as a temporary feeling but as an everlasting reality, is the ultimate basis for everything Jesus prays for. This love predates creation itself and is the reason Jesus was appointed as Mediator and Redeemer. Because the Father loved Him so deeply from eternity, He also destined those given to Jesus to share in that same glorious reality, to be loved in Him, and to dwell with Him forever.
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Understand the original words
katabolē tou kosmou · Greek Noun
The beginning of the created order; in biblical usage, it often refers to God's eternal plan and purpose established before the creation of the universe.
Jesus' prayer in John 17 is deeply rooted in the history of God's covenant with Israel, framing his desire for his followers' eternal glory within that long, unfolding relationship. His request anticipates the fulfillment of God's promises made long before the world existed.
c. 2000 BC - 1500 BC
Patriarchal Period
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the forefathers of Israel, live and establish covenantal relationships with God, setting the stage for future covenants and divine promises.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, receiving the Law at Mount Sinai. This event establishes Israel as a distinct nation under God's covenant.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy
King David establishes Jerusalem as the capital and unites the tribes of Israel, ushering in a golden age of national strength and religious devotion.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile
Jerusalem is destroyed, and many Israelites are exiled to Babylon. This period of judgment leads to a deeper reflection on God's law and covenant faithfulness.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and ultimately sacrificing himself for the sins of humanity. This is the central event of Christian faith.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
The Last Supper and Jesus' Prayer
In the hours before his crucifixion, Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, offering profound teachings and prayers, including this High Priestly prayer for their unity and future glory.
c. 45-65 AD
Early Church Growth
The Apostle Paul and others spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire, establishing churches and writing letters that further explain Christian doctrine and practice.
This passage speaks of God highly exalting Jesus and giving Him a name above every name, directly paralleling the glory Jesus anticipates and desires for His followers to behold.
1 John 3:2This verse connects the future state of believers with seeing Jesus as He is, echoing John 17:24's theme of beholding Christ's glory and implying a transformation to be like Him.
John 14:3Jesus promises to come back and take believers to be with Him where He is, directly supporting the desire expressed in John 17:24 for His followers to join Him in His glorious dwelling place.
Revelation 22:4This verse describes believers seeing God's face and being in His presence, which aligns with the ultimate fulfillment of Jesus' prayer in John 17:24 for His given ones to be with Him and behold His glory.
Hebrews 1:3This passage highlights Jesus as the radiance of God's glory and upholding all things, reinforcing the divine nature of the glory Jesus desires His followers to see and participate in.
barnesJohn 17:24: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."
I will - This expression, though it commonly denotes command, is here only expressive of desire. It is used in prayer, and it was not the custom of the Saviour to use language of command when addressing God. It is often used to express strong and earnest desire, or a pressing and importunate…
cambridgeJohn 17:24: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."
24 . Father ] Comp. John 17:1; John 17:5; John 17:11 , John 11:41 , John 12:27 . The relationship is the ground of the appeal; He knows that His ‘will’ is one with His Father’s. I will ] Comp. John 21:22 ; Matthew 8:3 ; Matthew 23:37 ; Matthew 26:39 ; Luke 12:49 . He has already granted this…
Christ's prayer isn't just a request for believers to see His glory, but to experience it alongside Him. This "beholding" implies active participation and enjoyment, a sharing in the very glory the Father bestowed on Him. This desire is rooted in God's foundational, eternal love for the Son, demonstrating that our ultimate destiny is intimately bound to Christ's own exaltation.
Jesus is concluding his prayer for his disciples, which began earlier in chapter 17. Having prayed for their sanctification and protection, he now expresses his deep desire for their ultimate union with him in glory. He shifts from interceding for them in their earthly mission to anticipating their heavenly future, a desire rooted in the Father's eternal love for him.
Jesus is concluding his prayer for his disciples, which began earlier in chapter 17. Having prayed for their sanctification and protection, he now expresses his deep desire for their ultimate union with him in glory. He shifts from interceding for them in their earthly mission to anticipating their heavenly future, a desire rooted in the Father's eternal love for him.
"Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world." — Christ's prayer isn't just a request for believers to see His glory, but to experience it alongside Him. This "beholding" implies active participation and enjoyment, a sharing in the very glory t…
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Last reviewed October 2026