John 17:20 is a pivotal verse in Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer where He extends His intercession beyond His immediate disciples. In it, Jesus Christ explicitly prays for all future generations of believers—everyone who would come to faith in Him through the apostles’ message. This means Jesus was praying for you.
Imagine yourself in the Upper Room, just hours before the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. There, Jesus, our Lord and Savior, pours out His heart to the Father in His “High Priestly Prayer.” While we often focus on His prayers for His immediate disciples, one moment extends far beyond that night, reaching across centuries to embrace every single believer. This profound assurance is captured in John 17:20, where Jesus declares, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.”
This prayer is more than a historical record; it is a living testament to Jesus’ divine foreknowledge and His unending love for you. In this sacred utterance, Christ, the Son of God, interceded for generations yet to come—for all who would find faith through the apostles’ testimony. This group undeniably includes every Christian today. It’s a powerful affirmation that before you knew Him, Jesus knew you and prayed specifically for your faith, unity, and protection.
Join us as we journey through the profound truths of John 17:20. Together, we will delve into the rich context of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer and explore the deep meaning of this pivotal verse. You will discover how this divine intercession continues to shape and strengthen your Christian faith, reminding you that you are eternally cherished and prayed for by our risen Lord.
What Is the Context of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer?
The Setting: The Last Supper
Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, found in John 17, is a profound and intimate conversation with His Father. It takes place during a deeply significant moment when Jesus gathered with His closest disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem. This sacred gathering for the Passover meal would become known as the Last Supper.
This setting was no accident. On the night before His crucifixion, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation and divine purpose. Jesus knew His hour had come (John 13:1). He had just washed His disciples’ feet as a lesson in humility, shared the bread and wine to institute the Lord’s Supper, and delivered His final discourses assuring them of the Holy Spirit’s coming (John 14-16). His prayer follows these personal and prophetic moments, serving as a majestic climax to His earthly ministry before His ultimate sacrifice. Biblical scholars generally agree on the historical context of the Last Supper as a Passover Seder [1].
A Prayer for His Disciples (John 17:6-19)
Before extending His prayer to all future believers, Jesus earnestly prayed for His immediate disciples—the men who had walked with Him for three years, witnessed His miracles, and heard His teachings. His prayer for them highlights several critical themes:
- Protection: Jesus asked His Father to protect them from the evil one (John 17:15), knowing the spiritual battles they would face.
- Sanctification: He prayed for their sanctification—to be set apart for God’s holy purposes—through the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17).
- Unity: Jesus desired a unity among them that reflected the perfect unity He shared with the Father, which would serve as a powerful witness (John 17:11).
- Mission: He affirmed their mission to carry His message, commissioning them just as the Father had sent Him into the world (John 17:18).
This portion of the prayer confirms Jesus’ deep love for those He called, entrusting them with the Gospel and preparing them for the challenges ahead.
A Prayer for All Believers (John 17:20-26)
The scope of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer dramatically expands in John 17:20. Here, Jesus looks beyond His immediate circle to pray for every person who would ever believe in Him, including you and me. He states, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word” (John 17:20). This powerful verse connects believers of all generations to the first apostles, whose testimony, written in scripture, is the foundation of our faith. This portion of the prayer reveals Jesus’ enduring desire for His future church.
Key aspects of Jesus’ prayer for all believers include:
- Universal Unity: Jesus’ primary plea is for the unity of all believers—that we would be one, just as He and the Father are one (John 17:21).
- Witness to the World: Our unity is not just for our own benefit; it is a powerful witness “that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21). Christian unity provides undeniable testimony to Jesus’ divine origin.
- Sharing in His Glory: Jesus also prays that we might one day be with Him and behold His glory, highlighting our ultimate destiny in Christ (John 17:24).
- God’s Love in Us: Finally, He prays that the love with which the Father loved Him would be in us, empowering and defining us as His followers (John 17:26).
Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer moves from a specific intercession for His immediate followers to a sweeping, eternal prayer for every person who would ever place their faith in Him. It underscores the profound truth that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, prayed for you long before you ever knew Him, desiring your unity, sanctification, and eternal fellowship with God.
What does John 17 verse 20 mean?
“I Do Not Pray for These Alone”
In John 17:20, Jesus begins a profound and expansive part of His High Priestly Prayer. When He states, “I do not pray for these alone,” He is referring to the eleven faithful disciples with Him at that moment—the men He had personally called, taught, and prepared for ministry over three years. As the preceding verses show, He had just prayed for them in detail (John 17:6-19).
However, the beauty of this phrase lies in its forward-looking vision. Jesus knew His mission extended far beyond that immediate circle. He understood the salvation He was about to accomplish would impact countless lives for generations to come. For this reason, His prayer did not conclude with His closest followers; it simply began with them.
This verse reveals Jesus’ expansive love and incredible foresight. His concern was not limited to the apostles’ immediate future. Instead, His heart embraced a vast multitude of people yet to be born—those who had yet to hear His name. He prayed with an eternal perspective, encompassing all who would ever believe in Him.
“But Also for Those Who Will Believe in Me Through Their Word”
Jesus then clarifies the immense scope of His prayer, adding, “but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.” This phrase is incredibly significant for every Christian today because it shows Jesus looking far beyond the apostles’ generation.
Consider the profound implications here:
- The Apostles’ Foundation: The phrase “their word” refers to the apostles’ testimony, preaching, and teaching. As eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, they were commissioned to carry the Gospel message to the world (Acts 1:8).
- The Written Word: This also points to the inspired Scriptures they would later write. The Gospels, Epistles, and other New Testament books preserve their “word” for all time. As a result, countless people continue to encounter Christ through these written testimonies.
- The Power of the Gospel: Believing in Jesus “through their word” highlights the importance of hearing and responding to the Gospel message. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14, ESV). The apostles’ word, both spoken and written, became the conduit of faith.
Essentially, Jesus prayed for the fruit of the apostles’ labor. He prayed for everyone who would respond to their God-given mission to proclaim Him as Lord and Savior. This encompasses every single believer throughout history.
How This Verse Includes Every Christian Today
This part of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer is profoundly personal and comforting. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ today, then Jesus prayed for you.
Here’s why this truth should resonate deeply in your heart:
- Personal Assurance: Before His crucifixion, Jesus, the Son of God, specifically brought your future belief before His Father. This offers immense comfort and assurance. You are not an afterthought; you were in His divine foresight.
- Timeless Connection: This verse bridges the gap between the first-century disciples and us. It means that the unity and protection Jesus prayed for His immediate followers extend to all believers across time and space. We are spiritually connected to the very first church (Ephesians 2:19-20).
- The Power of the Word: Your faith likely began by hearing or reading the Gospel message. Perhaps it was from a pastor, a friend, a book, or directly from the Bible itself. All these avenues trace back to the “word” first entrusted to the apostles. Therefore, your belief is a direct fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer.
This prayer confirms that God’s plan of salvation is meticulously detailed and divinely orchestrated. It shows Jesus’ unwavering commitment to gather all His sheep. Indeed, His prayer for you provides an unshakable foundation for your faith journey, affirming that you are seen, loved, and prayed for by the Lord Himself.
How Does This Prayer Shape Our Christian Faith?
The Assurance of Being Prayed for by Jesus Christ
Imagine the Son of God, just hours before His ultimate sacrifice, praying specifically for you. This profound truth is found in John 17:20, where Jesus prayed not only for His immediate disciples but also extended His heartfelt intercession to include all future believers—you and me.
This assurance brings immense comfort, knowing that Jesus, our High Priest, actively prayed for our faith, protection, and sanctification. His prayer offers a deep sense of security, reminding us that we are held in His divine care.
Furthermore, this knowledge strengthens our confidence. Because Jesus knows our struggles and understands our doubts, His intercession before the Father is all the more meaningful. In fact, Christ continues to intercede for us, as Hebrews 7:25 states: “He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” Therefore, we can approach God with boldness, knowing our Lord has already paved the way.
The Foundation of Christian Unity (John 17:21)
Beyond personal assurance, Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-21 establishes a crucial foundation for the unity of all believers. He prayed, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me” (John 17:21). This call for unity is not merely a suggestion; it is a divine imperative.
Christian unity is meant to reflect the very nature of God, in which the Father and Son are perfectly one in purpose and love. When believers mirror this divine oneness, our unity serves a powerful missional purpose. A unified church provides a compelling testimony to the world, showing that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God.
Disunity, on the other hand, hinders our witness and obscures the truth of the Gospel. Therefore, working towards unity by embracing love, forgiveness, and mutual respect is essential. This includes honoring diverse expressions of faith within biblical boundaries, as encouraged in Ephesians 4:3: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ultimately, our oneness glorifies God and draws others to Him.
Our Connection to the First Apostles
John 17:20 also establishes an unbreakable link connecting us directly to the first apostles. Jesus prayed for “those who will believe in Me through their word,” referring to the apostolic message that encompasses their eyewitness accounts and teachings about Him.
This verse affirms the authority and reliability of the apostolic testimony, showing that our faith is not based on speculation. Instead, it is built upon the historical witness of those who walked with Jesus—those who saw His miracles, heard His words, and witnessed His resurrection.
By faithfully transmitting the Gospel message and recording it in the New Testament, the apostles provided the foundation for Christian doctrine. This means our faith today is directly rooted in their original proclamation. We are inheritors of a living tradition that began with Christ and was passed down through His chosen messengers. As 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” The enduring word of the apostles continues to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ.
Exploring John 17:20 in Different Bible Versions
Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20 is a cornerstone of our faith, assuring every believer—past, present, and future—that our Savior intercedes for us. While different Bible versions reveal nuances in language, they all preserve the same glorious truth.
John 17:20 KJV / NKJV
The King James Version (KJV) and the New King James Version (NKJV) are beloved for their traditional, formal language. They offer a dignified presentation of scripture that echoes historical English translation efforts.
- KJV: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.”
- NKJV: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.”
Both versions clearly articulate that Jesus’ prayer extends beyond His immediate disciples. He directs His divine intercession to “them also which shall believe” or “those who will believe.” This crucial phrase, “through their word,” powerfully links every future believer to the apostles’ testimony. Their eyewitness accounts, preserved in Scripture, are the means by which we come to faith (Romans 10:17).
The KJV’s older vocabulary, seen in phrases like “neither pray I for these alone,” conveys a timeless solemnity. The NKJV retains much of this traditional reverence while updating archaic words for modern readers. Ultimately, both versions confirm that Jesus’ prayer covers every Christian throughout history.
John 17:20 NIV
The New International Version (NIV) balances word-for-word accuracy with thought-for-thought clarity. It prioritizes contemporary readability, making it accessible to a wide audience.
- NIV: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.”
The NIV uses simpler, more direct language. The opening, “My prayer is not for them alone,” immediately communicates the prayer’s broader scope, making it clear that Jesus’ petition reaches beyond the disciples who were with Him. Similarly, the phrase “their message” is a concise rendering of “their word,” emphasizing the content of the apostles’ preaching: the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
This version helps modern readers grasp the personal relevance of Jesus’ prayer, affirming that anyone who believes through the Gospel message is included. The NIV’s accessible approach helps new believers quickly understand this profound truth: Jesus prayed for you long before you ever knew Him.
John 17:20 NLT
As a thought-for-thought translation, the New Living Translation (NLT) aims to convey the meaning of the original texts in clear, natural English. This approach often results in a dynamic and easily understandable reading experience.
- NLT: “I am not praying only for these disciples. I am also praying for all who will ever believe in me through their message.”
The NLT’s phrasing is exceptionally warm and direct. By specifying “these disciples,” it clearly states the prayer’s inclusiveness, while the addition of “all who will ever believe” leaves no room for doubt. This wording unmistakably includes every Christian from the past, present, and future. The phrase “through their message” once again highlights the foundational role of the apostles’ testimony.
This translation helps readers feel a deep, personal connection to Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. It powerfully communicates the incredible truth that Jesus specifically thought of future believers, praying for their faith and their unity with others. The NLT effectively conveys the breadth and depth of Jesus’ love and intercession for His Church (Ephesians 5:25).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main message of John 17:20-23?
In John 17:20-23, Jesus prays for all future believers—every Christian who would ever come to faith in Him. His primary desire is for the unity of His followers. He envisions a profound spiritual oneness among them, a unity that should mirror the perfect oneness He shares with the Father. He prays, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21 ESV).
The main message centers on three vital points:
- Unified Testimony: Our unity serves as a powerful witness to the world, authenticating Jesus’ divine mission. When Christians live in harmony, the world sees God’s love and acknowledges that Jesus truly came from the Father.
- Shared Glory: Jesus prays for believers to share in the glory the Father has given Him so they can experience the same love and unity He shares with the Father. As He says, “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one” (John 17:22 ESV). This shared glory signifies our divine adoption and inheritance in Christ.
- Perfect Oneness: The ultimate goal of this unity is our complete participation in the divine life. This doesn’t mean we become gods ourselves; rather, it means being perfectly united with God through Christ in a profound, spiritual, and relational intimacy. This perfect oneness serves as the ultimate proof to the world of God’s saving plan.
Therefore, Jesus’ prayer is a powerful call for believers to strive for unity in love and purpose. This oneness not only reflects the very nature of God but also serves as an undeniable sign to a watching world.
What’s the difference between called and chosen?
The terms “called” and “chosen” appear throughout scripture and are often used interchangeably. However, they carry distinct meanings. Understanding this difference is key to clarifying God’s sovereign plan, human responsibility, and the depth of His grace.
Here is a clear distinction between the two:
| Aspect | Called (Kletos) | Chosen (Eklektos) |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | This refers to God’s general invitation of salvation, which extends to all humanity through the Gospel. | This refers to God’s sovereign selection—His divine act of choosing specific individuals for salvation and eternal life. |
| Scope | The scope is broad and universal, as the Gospel message goes out to everyone. “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16). Many people hear this invitation. | The scope is specific and particular because not everyone who hears the call responds in saving faith. God sovereignly chooses those who will, as Jesus taught: “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). |
| Basis | This outward summons is based on God’s benevolence and His desire for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). | This inward, effective work of the Holy Spirit is based on God’s foreknowledge and sovereign grace (Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:4-5). |
| Human Response | The call requires a human response of faith and repentance. People are urged to “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19), but some reject the invitation. | A positive response evidences God’s prior work in the heart. Those who are chosen have been enabled by grace to respond, as their faith itself is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). |
| Outcome | Offers the opportunity for salvation. Those who reject the call remain lost. | Guarantees salvation and adoption into God’s family. Those chosen will persevere in faith. |
In essence, while all are “called” to hear the Gospel, only those whom God has “chosen” will respond in saving faith. This distinction highlights two profound truths: God’s universal love offered to all and His sovereign grace in drawing specific individuals to Himself. [2]
How do you carry your cross daily?
Carrying your cross daily is a foundational part of Christian discipleship, rooted in a direct command from Jesus: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23 ESV). This command isn’t merely about physical suffering; it is a profound call to spiritual transformation.
It’s important to clarify that this does not mean bearing the guilt of our sins—Jesus did that fully and perfectly on His cross (Isaiah 53:5). Instead, carrying our cross daily involves the following key spiritual disciplines and attitudes:
- Self-Denial: This means consciously putting God’s will and the needs of others above our own selfish desires. It often requires sacrificing personal comfort, preferences, and ambitions.
- Obedience to Christ: This involves aligning our lives with Jesus’ teachings and example. We submit to God’s authority and obey His commands, even when they are difficult or unpopular.
- Embracing Hardship: Because following Christ can bring opposition, carrying your cross means being willing to endure hardship, ridicule, or suffering for your faith. As Jesus promised, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33).
- Continual Surrender: This is a daily decision to surrender control to God, trusting His plan for our lives. It means releasing our own agendas and ambitions to embrace His divine purpose instead.
- Living for Others: Just as Jesus sacrificed Himself, we are called to lay down our lives in loving service to our neighbors and fellow believers (John 15:13).
In summary, carrying your cross daily is a continuous act of laying down your life to fully embrace Jesus as Lord. It is a commitment to follow Him wherever He leads—a path that promises spiritual growth, profound purpose, and ultimately, eternal life with Him.
