Jesus knows that His departure from the world is very near, near enough to use the present tense. His task is to leave the world but the task of the disciples is to remain in it.

The expression “Holy Father” is unusual. In the Old Testament men had come to rely upon the care of God for them because they were part of the nation of Israel which was His. They thought that no matter what the circumstances, God would stand up for them if their nation were dishonoured, because dishonouring His nation would also bring dishonour on God. This, however, was presumption and it required that they be taught that God is holy, so God sent His prophets to teach Israel that if they did not respect His holiness or His sovereignty, they could not expect His blessing. By the time of Jesus this lesson had been learned so well that God was thought of as being remote and unaccessable. They knew Him to be great and dignified but also thought Him to be distant and indifferent to their needs. Jesus spent a large amount of time referring to God as “Father” to help the Israelites come into the revelation that God loved them dearly and was intimately concerned for them. He was still holy, but they needed a fuller knowledge of His name. This use of “Holy Father” is a reminder of both aspects of the nature of God.

Jesus prays that God will protect His disciples by the power of Who He is, especially as He has been revealed by Christ. Jesus speaks of the name God the Father gave Him, which points to the fact that Jesus has been entrusted with the revelation of God as He is.

The whole reason for this protection is unity. The disciples already have unity to an extent but it has obviously not yet been perfected (Luke 22:24). Jesus prays that they may continually be one, not that they may become one. Note also that “one” is neuter and singular. Barrett observes that “The disciples are to be kept by God not as units but as a unity.” This unity is in the Father and the Son (17:21) and Christ is to be in them (17:23). The basis for this unity is a common abiding in Christ and His abiding in them. “It is the Divine unity of love that is referred to, all wills bowing in the same direction, all affections burning with the same flame, all aims directed to the same end – one blessed harmony of love.” (W. Milligan, W.F. Moulton) It is not a unity of organization, but of heart, mind, and will.

Luke 22:24  Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

John 17:21  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 17:23  I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.