Looking back over His life on earth, the Lord could justly and honestly say, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (Jn. 17:4). Wonderful words, wonderful facts! May we learn from our blessed Lord to commit ourselves to do God’s will and—with His help—carry out the things we start, to finish them.

Christ’s amazing prayer leads us into a further enjoyment of our relationship with the Father and the Son, that of eternal life (v. 3). The moment we believed, we received eternal life (3:16). What does this really mean? The Lord Jesus is “the eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:20), and so receiving eternal life implies receiving Him. That means welcoming Him into our lives and cultivating a true relationship with Him. It is our Lord’s desire that we enjoy fellowship with Him and with the Father, thus enjoying the eternal life He has given us.

At the beginning of His prayer to the Father, Christ spoke of His mission, that having authority over all flesh, He should give eternal life to all who believe (Jn. 17:2). His ultimate purpose was—and still is—that we may have continuous fellowship with the Father and the Son: fullness of joy (1 Jn. 1:3–4). Our God and Father has designed all of this, and He and the Son work together to enable us to be true worshipers, since “the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (Jn. 4:23). Thus, Christ uses His authority to give eternal life to those who repent and believe. The Lord’s statement, “I have manifested Your name,” finds a response in the disciples: “they have kept Your word.” May this be true of us, that we keep His Word and worship Him in spirit and in truth!