Jesus’ Last Prayer for His Disciples
John 17 records the last (recorded) prayer we have of Jesus for His disciples. Let us not forget that this is not the last prayer that Jesus makes: He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane we know, and He prayed on the cross when He said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” But this is the last recorded prayer that we have which Jesus makes – for the most part – on behalf of His disciples.
Jesus uses this prayer to a large extent as a teaching opportunity for His disciples – praying to God and teaching at the same time. He covers any doubts they had about where He was going, His divine nature, and whence His authority came. His prayer is also for the ongoing spiritual strength and protection of the twelve (or eleven, now) disciples.