John 17:1 – Jesus Prays for the Hour of Glory
Quick Summary
John 17:1 opens the High Priestly Prayer as Jesus declares, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you.” This verse reframes the cross not as defeat but as the climactic hour of glory, where the love of God is revealed through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ.
Introduction
The Gospel of John revolves around “the hour.” At Cana, when asked to help at a wedding feast, Jesus replied, “My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). Again and again, John narrates how opponents could not arrest him “because his hour had not yet come” (John 7:30; 8:20). Then, in John 12:23, as Jesus prepares to enter Jerusalem, the tone shifts: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
Now, in John 17:1, the hour truly arrives. Jesus lifts his eyes toward heaven and begins the prayer that has been called the “Holy of Holies” of the New Testament—the High Priestly Prayer. These opening words frame everything that follows. The cross, resurrection, and exaltation are not accidents of history but the divine moment toward which all of salvation history has been moving
To understand John 17:1 is to understand John’s Gospel itself: glory comes not through worldly power but through the self-giving love of God revealed on the cross.
John 17:1 Meaning and Commentary
John 17:1 – The Hour Has Come
“The hour” in John is not a single tick of the clock but the divinely appointed moment of redemptive fulfillment. It includes Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection, and exaltation as one continuous event. It is the hour of paradox—when the world judges him guilty, yet God declares him righteous; when the disciples scatter, yet God gathers his people; when death appears victorious, yet life triumphs forever.
In Exodus, God’s glory filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34–35). Israel’s priests ministered in the shadow of that glory, careful never to come too close. But now, in Jesus, the Word made flesh, glory dwells among us (John 1:14). The hour of glory is no longer smoke and fire hidden in the temple; it is the crucified Son lifted up for all to see.
“Glorify Your Son, So That the Son May Glorify You”
This mutual glorification is the heartbeat of John’s Christology. Jesus asks the Father to glorify him—not for self-exaltation, but “so that the Son may glorify you.” The glory of the Son and the glory of the Father are inseparable.
Here, glory (doxa) means the visible revelation of God’s character. In the Old Testament, God’s glory was often terrifying—Moses had to hide his face (Exodus 33:22–23), Isaiah cried out in fear when he saw the Lord high and lifted up (Isaiah 6:5). Now, glory is revealed in an even more shocking way: through crucifixion. The cross, the ultimate symbol of shame, becomes the throne of divine glory.
The Son glorifies the Father by revealing the depth of his love, truth, and mercy through obedience even unto death. The Father glorifies the Son by raising him from the dead and exalting him to the right hand of heaven. This interplay of glory reveals that divine power is not domination but love poured out.
The Hour in John’s Gospel
John repeatedly threads this motif:
John 2:4 – At Cana, Jesus delays, saying his hour has not come.
John 7:30; 8:20 – His enemies cannot seize him because the hour is still future.
John 12:23 – With Greeks seeking him, Jesus declares the hour has come.
John 13:1 – Before the Last Supper, Jesus knows “his hour had come to depart from this world.”
John 17:1 – Now, in prayer, he announces the hour has arrived.
John teaches that history is under God’s timing. Nothing happens prematurely. Jesus’ hour is not controlled by Rome, Caiaphas, or Judas—it is set by the Father.
Old Testament Echoes
Glory in the Tabernacle and Temple
In Exodus 40:34–35, God’s glory filled the tabernacle, and Moses could not enter. Later, Solomon’s temple was filled with glory so thick that priests could not stand to minister (1 Kings 8:10–11). God’s glory was overwhelming, unapproachable. Now, that same glory is seen in Jesus’ obedience to the cross. John reframes Israel’s hope: God’s presence is no longer locked away in a building but revealed in a person.
Isaiah’s Servant Songs
Isaiah 52–53 describes the Suffering Servant who is “exalted and lifted up” yet “despised and rejected.” The paradox is that humiliation and exaltation are inseparably linked. John sees in Jesus’ “hour” the fulfillment of Isaiah’s vision: God’s Servant glorified through suffering.
Daniel’s Son of Man
In Daniel 7:13–14, the Son of Man is presented before the Ancient of Days and given glory and dominion. John merges this image with the crucifixion. The lifting up of Jesus (John 3:14; 12:32) is both crucifixion and exaltation. The cross is the throne where the Son of Man receives everlasting dominion.
See More in our Faith in Art: The Ancient of Days by William Blake: Vision of a Creator
Theological Significance
The Cross as Glory
The world sees execution; faith sees enthronement. The cross is not an interruption of glory but the very place glory is revealed.
The Nature of Divine Glory
Glory is not about dazzling light but about God’s character revealed in love. At the cross, God shows that his power is self-giving, his rule is sacrificial, his majesty is mercy.
Unity of Father and Son
The Son’s request to be glorified “so that the Son may glorify you” demonstrates the unity of divine purpose. The Father and Son are not rivals but perfectly one.
The Hour as Fulfillment of History
The timing of “the hour” shows that redemption is not random but planned. Jesus is not a victim of history but the one who fulfills it.
Meaning for Today
Our “hours” can become glory moments. Life brings suffering, disappointment, and trial. Jesus shows that these moments, when entrusted to God, can become places where glory is revealed.
Prayer prepares us for obedience. Before the cross, Jesus prays. Before we face difficulty, we too are called to prayer, grounding ourselves in God’s will.
True glory is found in service. Jesus defines glory not as status but as love poured out. The church glorifies God not through triumphalism but through humility and sacrifice.
We are caught up in the glory of God. Jesus’ glory is shared with his disciples (John 17:22). This means that believers are not passive spectators but participants in God’s radiance, reflecting his love in the world.
FAQ
1. What is the “hour” in John 17:1?
It refers to Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection, and exaltation—a single redemptive event marking the fulfillment of his mission.
2. How can the cross be glory?
Because glory in Scripture means the visible manifestation of God’s character. On the cross, God’s self-giving love is revealed most clearly.
3. How does this verse connect to the Old Testament?
It echoes the glory in the tabernacle, Isaiah’s Suffering Servant, and Daniel’s Son of Man—all pointing to Christ’s glorification through suffering and exaltation.
4. What does this verse teach about prayer?
That prayer aligns us with God’s purposes. Jesus prays not for escape but for God’s glory to be revealed through him.
5. How does this verse shape Christian life today?
It teaches us to reinterpret hardship as opportunity for God’s glory, to live as people marked by prayer, and to understand that real glory is love.
Works Consulted
Raymond Brown, John (AYB), vol. 2, John 13–21.
D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (PNTC).
Gail O’Day, John (NIB).
Craig Keener, The Gospel of John.
Andreas Köstenberger, John (BECNT).
