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John 17:20-26
Sponsored in honor of the people of
First United Methodist Church,
St John's Michigan

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • XLVII.38-44; Tatian's Diatessaron (c. 150-160).
  • IV.XIV.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • I.3, I.8, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • I.VI.2, II.III.5, II.V.4, II.XI.6, III.VI.1, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • I.24, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • VIII.XII, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • XIII.20, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • On the Mortality -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • Epistle LXXIV -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 256)
  • From Augustine's Tractates on John: Tractate 109 (17:20); Tractate 110 (17:21-23); Tractate 111 (17:24-36).
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "He communicates the knowledge of the Father with his own little by little, which knowledge is most full in Christ the mediator, that they may in him be beloved by the Father, with the selfsame love with which he loves the Son."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "He communicates the knowledge of the Father with his own little by little, which knowledge is most full in Christ the mediator, that they may in him be beloved by the Father, with the selfsame love with which he loves the Son."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "He asks, as having a right to be heard, and prays, not as a servant, but a Son: that they may behold my glory - Herein Is the happiness of heaven."
  • His Glory Given to Us, from The Poor Man's Portions, Robert Hawker, c. 1800.
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  • "'Love and I'--A Mystery," John 17:26, Charles H. Spurgeon, 1882.
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "If Christ abides in the heart, the one life will draw all who have Christ formed within them into one family."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, John 17:20-26, Barbara Lundblad, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2016.
    • "Can we be open to God's surprises?"
  • "For Us!" David Lose, in the meantime, 2016.
    • "Our opportunity this week, I think, is to let them know that whatever they may face, they do not face it alone, because Jesus was praying for them back then and promises to accompany them through the Holy Spirit even now, all these years later."
  • The Truett Pulpit, Dr. Paul Simpson Duke, Co-Pastor, First Baptist Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2016.
  • Pulpit Fiction, with podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2016.
  • "A Shared Sense - Jesus' Prayer," Nancy Rockwell, The Bite in the Apple, 2016.
  • "A Slave Girl Set Free and the Unity Jesus Calls Us To," Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2016.
  • "Resurrection Is Promise," Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2016.
  • "That The World May Believe," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer, 2016.
    • "What creates a real and lasting unity in the church is the love of the God among us. As we focus on that love, we have the opportunity to become a community that lives in such a way that the world may believe."
  • "Graceful Unity," Glenn Monson, Law & Gospel Everywhere, 2016.
  • Commentary, John 17:20-26, Lucy Lind Hogan, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2013.
    • "Jesus’ prayer reminds us that our unity, our “oneness” is to be a sign to the world of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. Oneness and unity is about love. And if you have been a part of a family, a member of a church, or a community, you know that within that love there can be disagreements and squabbling."
  • "When 'Homeland Security' Keeps Us from Encountering God," Matthew L. Skinner, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks, 2013.
    • "How do we encounter God? Some assume it comes from adhering to tried and true practices and traditions. But sometimes we experience God through opening ourselves to what or to who is different. This has particular relevance for our time, as the United States struggles to figure out what makes for 'homeland security.'"
  • "A Purpose-Filled Prayer," D Mark Davis, Left Behind and Loving It, 2013.
  • "The Power of Being Prayed For," David Lose, Dear Working Preacher, 2013.
    • "One of the amazing things about this passage is that Jesus doesn’t pray only for them, but also for us."
  • "What about the Mystical Union?" Russell Rathbun, The Hardest Question, 2013.
    • "Something went wrong..."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, John 17:20-26, David Ewart, 2013.
    • "This fully devoted relationship is what John means by 'love.' It is by abiding in this love, and being completely one that outsiders may truly know that indeed Jesus was sent by the Father."
  • Pulpit Fiction, podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2013.
  • A Unity Not of Our Making, Dr. Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2013.
    • "Have you read Bonhoeffer's Life Together? It certainly has lent insight to my understanding of the unity Jesus prays for now. Is it helpful to you as well?"
  • Commentary, John 17:20-26, Mary Hinkle Shore, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2010.
    • "How do you feel when someone prays out loud for you?"
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year C Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Easter 7, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "John?s theme of unity has the Christian community as its focus, but ultimately its theology is more inclusive than that. When we run with it, we find it opens up possibilities for all humanity and for all creation."
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "What are the roles God plays in creating our unity? What are the roles we need to play in creating (or actualizing) that unity?"
  • "One Holy, Catholic, and [Divided] Church," Debra Dean Murphy, Intersections, 2010.
    • "John probably included Jesus? prayer in his Gospel because of doctrinal strife in his own community. Discord then and now. Yet while the scandal of disunity persists, Jesus prays for us still."
  • Jesus Prays That They Might Be One, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2010.
  • Lectionary Blogging, John Petty, Progressive Involvement, 2010.
    • "Ginosko--'to know'--is the most intensive of the Greek words for knowledge.  It means deep interior perception which influences our emotions and actions.  It is 'knowing' in an intimate and mystical sense."
  • First Look: John 17:20-26, Lee Koontz, reflectious, 2010.
    • "It helps, I think, to understand that the unity for which Jesus asks is not based on who we are, but on who God is."
  • "One with the Father and the Son," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • God's Empowering Mission in the World, Easter to Trinity with the Gospel of John: Bearing Witness to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Paul S. Berge, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1995.
    • "Jesus' prayer continues its work in our world, calling and inviting all into the presence of God."
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, John 17:20-26, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
    • "To finish a season of resurrection we hear that Jesus, Resurrected One, is one with you and me (and all? following John 1:3)."
  • Laterally Luke, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • Seventh Sunday of Easter, The Church in Mission: Gospel Texts for the Sundays of Easter (Series C), Duane A. Olson, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1995.
    • "Given the widespread recent interpretation of this passage, it is necessary to state at the outset that the unity of which Jesus speaks here is not organizational unity."
  • "The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus (John 17)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Anderson, Craig B., "Community Reconsidered," The Christian Century, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Anderson, Paul N., "The Having-Sent-Me Father: Aspects of Agency, Encounter, and Irony in the Johannine Father-Son Relationship," Semeia, 1999.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Appold, Mark, "Christ Alive! Church Alive! Reflections on the Prayer of Jesus in John 17," Currents in Theology and Mission, 1978.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bammel, Ernst, "The Farewell Discourse of the Evangelist John and its Jewish Heritage," Tyndale Bulletin, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Berge, Paul S., "Easter to Trinity with the Gospel of John: Bearing Witness to Father, Son and Holy Spirit," Word & World, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Cadier, Jean, "The Unity of the Church: An Exposition of John 17," Interpretation, 1957.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • D'Angelo, Mary Rose, "Imitating Deity in the Gospel of John: Theological Language and 'Father' in 'Prayers of Jesus'," Semeia, 1999.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Gruenler, Royce Gordon, "Expository Article: John 17:20-26," Interpretation, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Janzen, J. Gerald, "The Scope of Jesus's High Priestly Prayer in John 17," Encounter, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Koyama, Kosuke, "'So They May See My Glory,'" The Christian Century, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Laskey, Dennis A., "Luther's Exposition of John 17," Currents in Theology and Mission, 1991.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Marshall, Bruce D., "The Disunity of the Church and the Credibility of the Gospel," Theology Today, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Minear, Paul S., "Evangelism, Ecumenism, and John 17," Theology Today, 1978.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Morgan, Richard, "Fulfillment in the Fourth Gospel," Interpretation, 1957.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Morrison, Clinton D., "Mission and Ethic: An Interpretation of John 17," Interpretation, 1965.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Moulder, James, "Unity: The Jesus Prayer," Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 1974.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Newheart, Michael Willett, "The Soul of the Father and the Son: A Psychological (yet Playful and Poetic) Approach to the Father-Son Language in the Fourth Gospel," Semeia, 1999.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Olson, Duane A., "The Church in Mission: Gospel Texts for the Sundays after Easter (Series C)," Word & World, 1995.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Payton, James R., Jr., "On Unity and Truth: Martin Bucer's Sermon on John 17," Calvin Theological Journal, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Sheppard, Beth M., "The Rise of Rome: The Emergence of a New Model for Exploring the Fourth Gospel," American Theological Library Association Summary of Proceedings, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Scouteris, Constantine, "The People of God - Its Unity and Its Glory: A Discussion of John 17:17-24 in the Light of Patristic Thought," Greek Orthodox Theological Review, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Somerville, James G., "With the World Watching," The Christian Century, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Lover," the Rev. Peter Panagore, Day 1, 2012.
  • "Somebody Prayed for Me," the Rev. Jonathan Holston, Day 1, 2004.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "author, priest, sociologist", commentary and homily
    • Easter 7, 2004
    • Easter 7, 2001
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Ascension C, Easter 7C, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2016.
  • Storypath, Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story, Union Presbyterian Seminary, 2016.
• Drama:
  • "Jesus' Prayer at the Last Supper," Reader's Theater, Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, 2012.
  • "Leftovers," Eric Stapleton, dramatix.
  • "Jesus the Man of Prayer," Michael English, Milton Parish Church Drama Resources.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, John 17:26, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • Clip Art Images: John 17:20-26, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • John 17:20-26, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • John 17:20, John 17:21, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
  • Commercial Site: "Jesus Said These Things," (John 17) Visual liturgy for Easter 7B, The Work of the People.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: John 17:21, 22. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Happy the Home
    • In Imitation, Lord of Thee
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of John

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