Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 17:4-6

"I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do. And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word." — John 17:4-6 (ASV)

I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you invest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me with yourself with the glory which I had with you before the world was. I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world:

The best, the clearest manifestation of the name or character of God is to be found in the person, the life, the work, the love of Jesus Christ. Well did he say in another place, He that has seen me has seen the Father. I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world.

I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was. I have manifested your name to the men which you gave me out of the world: yours they were, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your word.

Is not that sweetly put on the part of our divine Lord? These chosen men had been poor creatures at the very best; very forgetful and very erring; yet their Lord brings no charges against them but he says to his Father, They have kept your word.

I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was. I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world: yours they were, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your word.

What a sweet thing for the Lord Jesus to say of that poor, much-erring company of disciples, "They have kept your word!" "They have not been all they might have been, nor all they ought to have been, but, O my Father, they have kept your word!" I trust that we may be found faithful to the truth that the Holy Spirit has taught us, and obedient to its precepts, that our Lord may be able to say to his Father concerning us also, "They have kept your word."