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The farewell prayer: Jesus the Messiah prays for himself

This article focuses on Jesus’ farewell prayer in the Gospel of John. Before his crucifixion, he prays aloud for his disciples according to the divine plan. Set in Jerusalem, the scene reveals the unity between Jesus and God, offering a solid testimony to strengthen the disciples’ faith. This prayer highlights Jesus’ awareness of the events to come and his commitment to his redemptive mission.

9 min farewell prayer Jesus crucifixion John 12 verses 5 books

See also

Bible texts

Matthew
Matthew (King James Version) not mentioned in the book
Mark
Mark (King James Version) not mentioned in the book
Luke
Luke (King James Version) not mentioned in the book
John
John 16.5-33 (King James Version)

But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Technical details

AD 33

Location: The city of Jerusalem, the house of Mary, mother of John Mark

Date: Friday, April 1, very early in the morning

Method: We now follow John

Note on the method: John is the only one to record these last teachings of the Master

Map of Jerusalem and Its Surroundings
Friday bar graph

Jesus the Messiah, after speaking of persecutions, comforts his disciples and friends.

Chronological details, according to our conclusions:

_3 The house is, in our view, that of Mary, the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark. Acts 12.12.

_4 The Passover meal begins on Thursday evening, after 6 p.m. It is already Friday for the Jews (Mark 14.17, Matthew 26.20, Luke 22.14-18). This is therefore not the official Seder, which will take place on the evening of Friday John 18.28.

_5 The meal ends on Friday morning before dawn, between midnight and 2:30 a.m.

_6 Judas Iscariot left before the end of this meal. John 13.30.

You can consult the complete chronology in the study ANN026 : The Hour of the Crucifixion.

Commentary:

Here we have the words of a prayer of Jesus the Messiah addressed to his Father, and John was a direct witness to it (John 17.1). The scene most likely still takes place in Mary’s house, which means that before leaving this house the Master prayed to his Father aloud in front of his disciples.

This intimacy is not usual, for Jesus the Messiah generally withdrew to be alone to pray to his Father (Mark 1.35), but here he wants his disciples to hear and understand what is at stake. Jesus the Messiah is fully aware of the events that are about to happen; he knows the Father’s will and declares: “the hour has come,” showing that his course of action is part of the divine plan established long ago (John 12.23).

Nothing is accidental; everything is planned and orchestrated according to the Father’s will. Jesus the Messiah gives before God an account of his work and affirms that he has accomplished the mission entrusted to him (John 17.4); he must now bring it to its end by the offering of his life.

The key to understanding these last words lies in the story that is about to unfold before the disciples’ eyes, for what they are about to live through will allow them to remember and understand that their Master knew everything in advance and that nothing escaped him (John 13.19).

Thus, this prayer becomes for them a precious testimony, shedding light on the events of the passion and confirming the perfect unity between the Son and the Father.