Tagged: Upper Room

John 17:1-11

This text is used for the Lectionary Year A on June 1, 2014.

John’s gospel lingers in the upper room the day before his crucifixion by spending four chapters on Jesus’s farewell address to his disciples (John 13-16).  Jesus is acutely aware that his departure from this world is imminent (John 13:33), and he spends his last hours with the disciples giving them a final, vital set of instructions and words of encouragement.  Like many other faithful goodbyes, Jesus concludes this discourse with prayer.  The prayer can be divided into three sections.  In the first, Jesus prays for himself (17:1-5).  In the second, he prays for his disciples (17:6-19).  Lastly, he prays for all those who will believe in him through the disciples preaching (17:20-26). Continue reading