The farewell discourse in the previous chapter was now ended with the note of triumph, "I have overcome the world." But now, before He led forth His disciples into the night, so big with fate, he would not break up the communion He has had with them so long, without gathering them about Him and praying that they might all be sanctified. In this prayer He included all who should ever be born again and become "Believers" in Him.

(John 17:1-3) These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (2) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

(John 17:11-21) And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (12) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. (13) And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (14) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (15) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (18) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (20) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (21) That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

(Heb 7:21-24) (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) (22) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. (23) And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: (24) But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. “He ever liveth.” He has always been, He is now, He will always be. He lived in the eternity of the past, He lives today and will live forevermore. Praise His Name forever!!!! “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

(Heb 13:8) While the Aaronic priesthood was not suffered to continue because of death, thank God our Saviour has an everlasting priesthood, seeing that “He ever liveth.” It is true that He died on the cross, yet in His Divinity His priesthood was not interrupted. And in dying on the cross He make the sacrifice once and for all for mankind sprinkling His precious blood of His sacrifice on the eternal mercy seat in the most Holy Place, not made with hands, in order that He might provide an atonement for us.

(Heb 7:26-28) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (27) Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (28) For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

(Heb 9:11-12) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (KJV)

After completing His sacrifice and being seen of the disciples on a number of occasions, He ascended to His Mediatorial throne where Paul says, He intercedes for us at the right hand of God. “to intercede for anyone, plead the cause” (Analytical Gr. L.) Then as our high priest He represents us pleading our cause for us with the glorified human body and intercedes through the merits of the blood sprinkles on the mercy seat of the heavenly Holy of Holies. Thus the glorified human body in not only a constant testimony to three worlds that the incarnation has taken place but inasmuch as He ascended to heaven with it testifies to the fact as the first fruit of the resurrection, the promise is made and stands unchanged through the ages that He is not interceding in vain but that the redeemed will one day be glorified and granted as entrance into heaven. How wonderful not only to have Him to represent us but to have Him to be our Mediator on the basis of His own Precious Blood. Amen.