“This Is Eternal Life” | The Gospel of John

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.” (John 17:1–2, ESV)

This is Jesus praying. This is Jesus at his most vulnerable moment in life. This is Jesus opening up for us a window to look through into his heart, into the depths of his soul. This is Jesus laying bare before all to see his longings and beliefs and hopes and expectations for the future. John 17 is a wide-open window into the most intimate and honest thoughts, desires, and passions of Jesus himself. This isn’t Jesus praying before a meal at some religious or civic banquet. This is Jesus speaking to his Father. And the amazing thing is that he lets us listen! – Sam Storms

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3, ESV)

“Eternal life turns on nothing more and nothing less than knowledge of the true God. Eternal life is not so much everlasting life as personal knowledge of the Everlasting One.” – D.A. Carson

“Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It’s a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God. If we don’t want God above all things, we have not been converted by the gospel.” – John Piper

“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” (John 17:4–5, ESV)