John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:1
These words spake Jesus ,.... Referring to his sermons and discourses, his words of comfort, advice, direction, and instruction, delivered in the three preceding chapters: and lift up his eyes to heaven ; the seat of the divine majesty, the throne of his Father. This is a prayer gesture. It is said F3 Vajikra Rabba, sect. 34. fol. 174. 4. of R. Tanchuma, that הגביה פניו לשמים , "he lift up his face to heaven", and said before the holy blessed God, Lord of the world, &c.;... read more
William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:9-19
The great interest of this passage is that it tells us of the things for which Jesus prayed for his disciples. (i) The first essential is to note that Jesus did not pray that his disciples should be taken out of this world. He never prayed that they might find escape; he prayed that they might find victory. The kind of Christianity which buries itself in a monastery or a convent would not have seemed Christianity to Jesus at all. The kind of Christianity which finds its essence in prayer and... read more