John 17:20 - Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word,

Generated Verse: John 17:20

What does "John 17:20" mean?


This verse, John 17:20, is part of Jesus's High Priestly Prayer, where he prays for his disciples and, importantly, extends that prayer to future believers. Let's break it down:

"Not for these only do I pray...": Jesus is referring to his current disciples, the ones who are with him and who he's about to leave. He's already prayed for them specifically.

"...but for those also who will believe in me through their word...": This is the key part. Jesus expands his prayer to include all future believers. These are people who will come to faith in Jesus Christ because of the testimony, teaching, and witness of the original disciples (and those who continue to spread the Gospel). "Their word" refers to the message of the apostles, the message of the Gospel.

In simpler terms, Jesus is praying for:

1. His current disciples (the apostles).
2. All future generations of Christians who will come to believe in Him because of the message spread by the disciples and their successors.

Significance and implications:

Inclusion of Future Believers: This verse demonstrates Jesus's concern and love for everyone who would eventually believe in him. It means that his prayer and concern extends to us today. We are part of the "those also" that Jesus prayed for.

Importance of Witness and Gospel: The verse highlights the importance of the apostles' (and subsequent believers') witness and the power of the Gospel message. Our faith is directly linked to the faithfulness of those who came before us in sharing the Good News.

Unity of Believers: It emphasizes the unity of all believers, past, present, and future. We are all part of the same family of faith, connected through Jesus Christ. We are all beneficiaries of Jesus's prayer.

Encouragement and Comfort: It's a comforting thought to know that Jesus prayed for us before we were even born. He foresaw our faith and included us in his intercession with the Father.

In essence, John 17:20 is a powerful statement about Jesus's love and care for all who would believe in Him, demonstrating the enduring impact of the Gospel message and the unity of all believers across time.