Charles Ellicott Commentary John 17:1

"These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the son may glorify thee:" — John 17:1 (ASV)

These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven.—Compare to Note on John 14:31. If the view adopted in this way is correct, it follows that the prayer of this chapter, as well as the discourses that preceded it, was uttered as they were preparing to leave the chamber after supper.

The words “to heaven” should not be taken to imply that he looked up to the sky, and must, therefore, have been in the open air. The upward look is naturally expressive of feeling, and irrespective of place.

This chapter contains, then, the words uttered by our Lord, with eyes lifted up to heaven, in prayer to the Father. It is often spoken of as the High Priest’s Prayer . Anyone who would understand it must remember that he is in the Holy of Holies, and must approach it with eyes and heart uplifted to the God to whom and by whom it was spoken.

Bengel speaks of this chapter as the simplest in word, and profoundest in thought, in the whole Bible. The key to the thought is in the presence of the Spirit, who shall guide into all truth (John 16:26).

Father, the hour is come.—“Father,” without any addition, as in John 17:5; John 17:21; John 17:24. Compare to “Our Father,” in the prayer taught to the disciples, and “Holy Father” and “Righteous Father” in John 17:11; John 17:25. In the first petition of this prayer the disciples are not identified with Him, and yet He does not by the use of the singular person exclude them. Through Him they and all believers receive the spirit of adoption, and cry, as He cried, Abba, Father. For the thought of the hour, compare to John 12:23; John 12:28; John 13:1; John 13:31–32.

Glorify your Son, that your Son also may glorify you.—What is meant by glorifying the Son is further explained in John 17:5. But this implies the dark path of death, which must be trodden before that glory will be attained (Compare to John 12:23 and following). The glorifying of the Father by the Son is the manifestation of God’s glory in the completion of the Messianic work by the mission of the Advocate and the future victories of the Church. This is further explained in John 17:2-4.