171 Jesus spoke these things ; and lifting up His eyes to heaven , He said , "Father , the hour has come ; glorify Your Son , that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh , that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life . 3 "This is eternal life , that they may know You, the only true God , and Jesus Christ whom You have sent . 4 " I glorified You on the earth , having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do . 5 "Now , Father , glorify Me together with Yourself , with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 17:1-5
Commentary on John 17:1-5
(Read John 17:1-5)
Our Lord prayed as a man, and as the Mediator of his people; yet he spoke with majesty and authority, as one with and equal to the Father. Eternal life could not be given to believers, unless Christ, their Surety, both glorified the Father, and was glorified of him. This is the sinner's way to eternal life, and when this knowledge shall be made perfect, holiness and happiness will be fully enjoyed. The holiness and happiness of the redeemed, are especially that glory of Christ, and of his Father, which was the joy set before him, for which he endured the cross and despised the shame; this glory was the end of the sorrow of his soul, and in obtaining it he was fully satisfied. Thus we are taught that our glorifying God is needed as an evidence of our interest in Christ, through whom eternal life is God's free gift.