Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 17:2

"even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life." — John 17:2 (ASV)

As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him (John 17:2).

In this verse, you find the doctrines of general and particular redemption blended. By his death, Christ obtained power over all flesh; his death had some relation to every man, but its special object was the salvation of the elect. The purpose of the shower is to water one particular field; but the rain falls everywhere; so plentiful is the bounty of God. The object of Christ's atonement is to purchase eternal life for those who were given to him by his Father; but he has also obtained power over all flesh.

As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.

Notice the doctrine of this verse. Here is the mention of both a general and a particular relation to Christ. You have given him power over all flesh. Never think of setting a limit to the value of Christ's atoning sacrifice; never dream that you can understand all its influences and all its bearings. By his death, Christ has power over all flesh. But notice also the special purpose and object of redemption; observe how it applies particularly to the elect of God.

The motive for the Father's giving Christ power over all flesh is this: that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him

Here we have both the universality and the specialty of the work of divine mercy. Christ has power over all flesh; men are in the power of the one Mediator, but there is this special object ever before him: that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

In that saying of our Lord we have an explanation of what he did by his redemption. There was a universal aspect of it: Thou hast given him power over all flesh. There was a special design in it: That he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

Sometimes, two views of the same thing may appear to contradict each other; but when we are taught of God, we soon discover that they do not really do so, and that a grand truth may be contained in the two descriptions of it. Christ had, by virtue of his death, power over all flesh; but it was for a distinct purpose: that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

Some people seem unable to see that there is perfect harmony between the general and the particular aspects of Christ's atonement. As the one Mediator between God and men, he has absolute power over all men, to do with them as he wills, yet that power has a special relation to those whom his Father gave him before the foundation of the world, and they are those who come to him in accordance with his declaration, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.

Christ, by his death, had power given him over all flesh—that is the universal aspect of it; but there was a special purpose hidden within it: that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.

As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.

I think this verse is a solution of the problem about general redemption and particular redemption. Christ, by his death, has obtained power over all flesh. There is a universality about his redemption, but the object of it still was that he should give eternal life to "as many as you have given me." There is a specialty and peculiarity about the grand ultimate result and design of the death of our Lord. Let us believe both truths.