The high priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17 marks the coming conclusion of His earthly ministry. In the prayer, Jesus prays for His own glorification, His disciples, and those who will come to faith through their testimony.
Jesus prays for the glorification of the Son (vv. 1-5): Jesus makes the distinction that eternal life is not merely an unending existence or a location, but knowing God. This reveals the mission of Jesus: to make God known and to provide the relationship for others to know Him.
Jesus prays for His disciples (vv. 6-19): By His own initiative, Christ gives the word of God, the disciples receive and accept, and then respond by knowing and believing God (vv. 6-9). In verses 15-20 Jesus points to the sanctification of believers. Sanctification means to be set apart for a purpose. Again, Jesus reveals the mission of knowing God and making Him known.
Jesus prays for those who will believe through the disciples’ ministry (vv. 20-26): Jesus states in verses 21 and 23 “I am in You, You are in me, they are in us, so that the world may believe.”
The glory of Christ is central to unity in the faith. This comes by knowing God and realizing believers are sanctified (set apart for a purpose) not by their own works, but by His work.
I love the intimacy of the high priestly prayer.
On a sidenote- I have always liked that painting as well, I love the work of James Christensen.