John 17:4 Study Bible: I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.

◄ John 17:4 ►

I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.

I have glorified You on earth
This phrase signifies the completion of Jesus' mission to reveal the Father’s character and will to humanity. The Greek word for "glorified" is "doxazo," which means to honor, magnify, or make glorious. In the context of Jesus' ministry, this glorification is not just about praise but about manifesting God's presence and attributes through His actions and teachings. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of God's glory being revealed through His works and presence, as seen in the Old Testament with the Shekinah glory in the tabernacle and temple. Jesus, as the incarnate Word, embodies this divine presence on earth, fulfilling prophecies and expectations of the Messiah who would reveal God to His people.

by accomplishing the work
The Greek word for "accomplishing" is "teleioo," which means to complete, perfect, or bring to an end. This indicates that Jesus' mission was not haphazard but divinely orchestrated and fulfilled with precision. The "work" refers to the entirety of Jesus' life, teachings, miracles, and ultimately His sacrificial death and resurrection. In a historical context, this work was the culmination of God's redemptive plan, foretold by prophets and anticipated by the faithful. Jesus' obedience to the Father’s will exemplifies the perfect servant, fulfilling the role of the suffering servant prophesied in Isaiah 53.

You gave Me to do
This phrase emphasizes the divine commissioning and authority behind Jesus' mission. The Greek word for "gave" is "didomi," which implies a deliberate and purposeful giving. It underscores the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son, where Jesus acts in complete alignment with the Father’s will. This divine mandate is rooted in the eternal plan of salvation, where Jesus is sent as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). The historical and scriptural context reveals that Jesus' mission was not self-initiated but was a fulfillment of the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, demonstrating God's faithfulness across generations.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing God the Father in prayer. This chapter is part of what is known as the High Priestly Prayer, where Jesus intercedes for His disciples and all future believers.

2. God the Father
The recipient of Jesus' prayer. Jesus speaks of glorifying the Father through His earthly ministry.

3. Earth
The realm where Jesus accomplished His work, emphasizing His incarnation and mission among humanity.

4. The Work
Refers to the mission and tasks given to Jesus by the Father, including His teachings, miracles, and ultimately His sacrificial death and resurrection.

5. Glorification
The act of honoring or bringing glory to God, which Jesus accomplished through His obedience and fulfillment of His mission.

Teaching Points

Understanding Glorification
Jesus glorified the Father by completing His mission. We, too, can glorify God by fulfilling our God-given purposes and living obediently.

The Importance of Mission
Just as Jesus had a specific work to accomplish, believers are called to discern and pursue the work God has prepared for them.

Obedience and Sacrifice
Jesus' life exemplifies obedience and sacrifice. Christians are encouraged to follow His example, even when it involves personal cost.

Prayer and Dependence
Jesus' prayerful relationship with the Father underscores the importance of prayer and dependence on God in fulfilling our life's mission.

Eternal Perspective
Jesus' focus was on eternal glory rather than earthly success. Believers are reminded to prioritize eternal values over temporal achievements.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Jesus' example of glorifying the Father through His work challenge your understanding of your own life's mission?

2. In what ways can you identify the specific "work" God has given you to accomplish in your life?

3. How does the concept of glorification in John 17:4 relate to the idea of living a life that reflects God's glory in your daily actions?

4. Reflect on a time when obedience to God's call required personal sacrifice. How did this experience deepen your faith?

5. How can you cultivate a prayerful dependence on God to ensure you are aligned with His purposes, as Jesus demonstrated in His relationship with the Father?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Philippians 2:5-11
This passage describes Jesus' humility and obedience, culminating in His exaltation, which parallels the glorification mentioned in John 17:4.

Hebrews 12:2
Highlights Jesus as the author and perfecter of faith, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him, reflecting His commitment to accomplishing the work given by the Father.

Isaiah 53
The prophecy of the Suffering Servant, which Jesus fulfilled, demonstrating the work He accomplished on earth.

John 4:34
Jesus speaks of His food being to do the will of the Father and to finish His work, echoing the theme of mission completion.

Sermons

The Perfect Work	J.R. Thomson	John 17:4
A Petition Urged by a Threefold Argument	W. Harris.	John 17:1-5
Christ's Authority	R. H. Story.	John 17:1-5
Christ's Prayer for Himself	T. Whitelaw, D. D.	John 17:1-5
God has no Son Without Prayer	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 17:1-5
Supreme Things in Man's Spiritual History	D. Thomas, D. D.	John 17:1-5
The Divine Glorification	J. Spence, D. D.	John 17:1-5
The Final Hour of the Son of God	R. Watson.	John 17:1-5
The Mediatorial Glory of Christ	T. Alexander, M. A.	John 17:1-5
The Momentous Hour	Homiletic Magazine	John 17:1-5
The Prayer of Christ	B. Wilkinson, F. G. S.	John 17:1-5
The Royal Prerogative	T. Alexander, M. A.	John 17:1-5
The Supreme Hour	W. Braden.	John 17:1-5
The Supreme Hour	T. Alexander, M. A.	John 17:1-5
Christ's a Great Work on Earth	T. Alexander, M. A.	John 17:4-5
Christ's Finished Work	M. Rainsford.	John 17:4-5
Christ's Retrospect of Life	C. Vince.	John 17:4-5
Christ's Reward His Finished Work	W. C. Smith, D. D.	John 17:4-5
Life's Work Should be Completed	H. W. Beecher.	John 17:4-5
Life's Work Well Done	J. B. Silcox.	John 17:4-5
The Complete Work	J. Vaughan, M. A.	John 17:4-5
The Glorification of God		John 17:4-5
The Heavenly Glorification	J. Spence	John 17:4-5
The Messianic Purpose		John 17:4-5

People

Jesus, Disciples

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Accomplished, Appointment, Completed, Completing, Finish, Finished, Gavest, Glorified, Glorify, Glory, Hast, Perfectly

Dictionary of Bible Themes

John 17:4

     2021   Christ, faithfulness
     2075   Christ, sinless
     2327   Christ, as servant
     2421   gospel, historical foundation
     2423   gospel, essence
     4915   completion
     5635   work, and redemption
     5776   achievement
     5971   uniqueness
     8454   obedience, to God

John 17:1-4

6512 salvation, necessity and basis

John 17:1-26

2360 Christ, prayers of
8603 prayer, relationship with God

John 17:2-4

2057 Christ, obedience

John 17:3-4

8441 goals

John 17:4-5

     1045   God, glory of
     1512   Trinity, equality of
     2024   Christ, glory of

Library

October 10 Evening
After this manner . . . pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven.--MATT. 6:9. Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father.--My Father, and your Father. Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.--Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

August 10 Morning
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but thou shouldest keep them from the evil.--JOHN 17:15. Blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.--Ye are the salt of the earth, . . . the light of the world.--Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is heaven. I also withheld thee from sinning against me. The Lord is faithful, …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 20 Morning
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.--JOHN 17:16. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.--In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.--That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Jesus of Nazareth . . . went about doing good, and …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 21 Morning
I am the Lord which sanctify you.--LEV. 20:8. I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. Sanctified by God the Father.--Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.--The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus . . . that he might …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 16 Morning
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.--JOHN 17:17. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.--Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul: discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 27 Morning
The glory which thou gavest me I have given them.--JOHN 17:22. I saw . . . the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.--These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.--Upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness . . . of a man above upon it. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 13 Evening
Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.--EPH. 2:18. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one. Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 1 Morning
This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,. . . I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.--PHI. 3:13,14. Father, I will that they . . . whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me.--I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.--He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 4 Evening
I have glorified thee on the earth.--JOHN 17:4. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.--I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.--This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 25 Evening
The spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.--ROM. 8:15. Jesus . . . lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, . . . Holy Father, . . . O righteous Father.--He said, Abba, Father.--Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.--For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and of the household of God. Doubtless thou …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 12 Morning
They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.--MAL. 3:17. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am: that …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

December 31. "I Pray not that Thou Shouldst Take them Out of the World, but that Thou Shouldst Keep them from the Evil" (John xvii. 15).
"I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep them from the evil" (John xvii. 15). He wants us here for some higher purpose than mere existence. That purpose is nothing else than to represent Him to the world, to be the messengers of His Gospel and His will to men, and by our lives to exhibit to them the true life, and teach them how to live it themselves. He is representing us yonder, and our one business is to represent Him here. We are just as truly sent …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

November 5. "I in Them, and Thou in Me" (John xvii. 23).
"I in them, and Thou in Me" (John xvii. 23). If we would be enlarged to the full measure of God's purpose, let us endeavor to realize something of our own capacities for His filling. We little know the size of a human soul and spirit. Never, until He renews, cleanses and enters the heart can we have any adequate conception of the possibilities of the being whom God made in His very image, and whom He now renews after the pattern of the Lord Jesus Himself. We know, however, that God has made the human …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

December 11. "I Pray not for the World, but for Them" (John xvii. 9).
"I pray not for the world, but for them" (John xvii. 9). How often we say we would like to get some strong spirit to pray for us, and feel so helped when we think they are carrying us in their faith. But there is One whose prayers never fail to be fulfilled and who is more willing to give them to us than any human friend. His one business at God's right hand is to make intercession for His people, and we are simply coming in the line of His own appointment and His own definite promise and provision, …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Folded Flock
I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory.'--JOHN xvii. 24. This wonderful prayer is (a) for Jesus Himself, (b) for the Apostles, (c) for the whole Church on earth and in heaven. I. The prayer. 'I will' has a strange ring of authority. It is the expression of His love to men, and of His longing for their presence with Him in His glory. Not till they are with Him there, shall He 'see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.' We …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

Christ's Summary of his Work
'I have declared onto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.'--JOHN xvii. 26. This is the solemn and calm close of Christ's great High-priestly prayer; the very last words that He spoke before Gethsemane and His passion. In it He sums up both the purpose of His life and the petitions of His prayer, and presents the perfect fulfilment of the former as the ground on which He asks the fulfilment of the latter. There is a singular …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

The Intercessor
'These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

'The Lord Thee Keeps'
...They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.'--JOHN xvii. 14-16. We have here a petition imbedded in a reiterated statement of the disciples' isolated position when left in a hostile world without Christ's sheltering presence. We cannot fathom the depth of the mystery of the praying Christ, but we may be sure of this, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

The High Priest's Prayer
'Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou givest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

Sixteenth Day. Holiness and Truth.
Make them holy in the Truth: Thy word is Truth.'--John xvii. 17. 'God chose you unto salvation in sanctification and belief of the Truth.'--2 Thess. ii. 12. The chief means of sanctification that God uses is His word. And yet how much there is of reading and studying, of teaching and preaching the word, that has almost no effect in making men holy. It is not the word that sanctifies; it is God Himself who alone can sanctify. Nor is it simply through the word that God does it, but through …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Seventeenth Day. Holiness and Crucifixion.
For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.'--John xvii. 19. 'He said, Lo, I am come to do Thy will. In which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.'--Heb. x. 9, 10, 14. It was in His High-priestly prayer, on His way to Gethsemane and Calvary, that Jesus thus spake to the Father: 'I sanctify myself.' He had not long before spoken …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

The Plenary Inspiration of Every Part of the Bible, vindicated and Explained. --Nature of Inspiration. --The Text of Scripture.
Thy Word is Truth. I THANKFULLY avail myself of the opportunity which, unexpected and unsolicited, so soon presents itself, to proceed with the subject which was engaging our attention when I last occupied this place. Let me remind you of the nature of the present inquiry, and of the progress which we have already made. Taking Holy Scripture for our subject, and urging, as best we knew how, its paramount claims on the daily attention of the younger men,--who at present are our hope and ornament; …
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

August the Twenty-Fourth the Lord's Body
"I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do." --JOHN xvii. 1-11. This quiet confession is in itself a token of our Lord's divinity. The serenity in which He makes His claims is as stupendous as the claims themselves. "Finished," perfected in the utmost refinement, to the last, remotest detail! Nothing scamped, nothing overlooked, nothing forgotten! Everything which concerns thy redemption and my redemption has been accomplished. "It is finished!" "And now ... I come to Thee." The visible …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

The Cure of Evil-Speaking
"If thy brother shall sin against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear, take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he will not hear them, tell it to the Church. But if he does not hear the church, let him be to thee as an heathen man and a publican." Matt. 18:15-17 1. "Speak evil of no man," says the great Apostle: -- As plain a …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

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