The Lord's Prayer in John 17 Don McKinney He Prays for the Elect Only I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given me; for they are thine (John 17:9).
Christ frames His prayer according to His Fathers will. For He commends to the Father only those whom the Father Himself willingly loves.
We gather from these words that God chooses out of the world those whom He sees fit to be heirs of life, and this distinction is not made according to men's merits, but depends on His mere good pleasure.
Christ expressly declares that they who are given to Him belong to the Father. It is certain that they are given that they may believe, and that faith flows from this giving.
Now, since Christ prayed only for the elect, belief in election is necessary for us if we want Him to commend our salvation to the Father.
Those, therefore, who try to blot out the knowledge of election from the hearts of believers do them a grievous injury, for they deprive them of the support of Christ.
He Prays for Their Salvation As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him (John 17:2).
The Father appointed Christ King and Head, over all mankind. Now, Christ does not say that He has been placed in command of the whole world to bestow life indiscriminately (non-selectingly).
But He restricts this grace to those given to Him. The kingdom of Christ extends to all men, but salvation is given only to the elect.
Not all receive life from Him, nor is it even Christ's office to give life to all, but only to the elect, whom the Father has committed to His care.
He asserts that He asks nothing save what accords with the Father's will. It is a general rule of prayer not to ask more than God would willingly give.
Authority is given to Christ, to the end, which is to bestow eternal life on all His own.
Christ therefore receives authority, not so much for Himself, as for our salvation. Only the elect belong to His flock, which He guards as a shepherd.
He Prays for Their Security I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil (John 17:15).
Christ teaches what the safety of the godly consists in. It is not that they are free from all vexations and cultivate ease and pleasure, but that in the midst of danger they remain safe by God's help.
He does not promise His disciples the grace of the Father to relieve them of all anxiety and toil, but to furnish them with unconquerable strength against their adversaries and not let them be overwhelmed by the great number of battles which they will have to endure.
Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with me where I Am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24).
He requests that God would at last take them into the heavenly kingdom to which He goes before them.