John 17:13 kjv
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
John 17:13 nkjv
But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
John 17:13 niv
"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
John 17:13 esv
But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
John 17:13 nlt
"Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.
John 17 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 15:11 | "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." | Jesus desires full joy for disciples. |
| Jn 16:22 | "Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you." | Permanent joy after temporary sorrow. |
| Jn 16:24 | "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." | Asking in Jesus' name leads to full joy. |
| Lk 24:52 | "And they worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." | Joy at Jesus' ascension. |
| Act 1:9-11 | "...while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight..." | Jesus' ascension to the Father. |
| Jn 20:17 | "Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” | Jesus' return to the Father emphasized. |
| Psa 16:11 | "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." | Divine presence brings fullness of joy. |
| 1 Pet 1:8-9 | "...you love Him; and though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy..." | Joy in faith despite not seeing Christ. |
| Phil 4:4 | "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" | Exhortation to constant joy in Christ. |
| Rom 14:17 | "for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." | Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, internal. |
| Gal 5:22 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..." | Joy as a characteristic of a Spirit-filled life. |
| Heb 12:2 | "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross..." | Jesus' own joy as motivation for suffering. |
| Jn 17:11 | "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You..." | Disciples remain in the world, Jesus leaves. |
| Jn 17:15 | "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." | Disciples' preservation in the world. |
| Jn 15:19 | "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." | Disciples' distinction from the world. |
| Jn 14:26 | "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." | Spirit reminds them of Jesus' words. |
| Jn 17:8 | "For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them..." | Disciples receiving Jesus' words. |
| Eph 3:19 | "...and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." | Fullness (of God) within believers. |
| Col 1:19 | "For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell," | All fullness dwells in Christ. |
| Col 2:9-10 | "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him..." | Fullness in Christ extends to believers. |
| 1 Jn 1:4 | "And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." | Apostolic teaching aims for full joy. |
| Jud 1:24 | "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy..." | Future joy in God's presence. |
John 17 verses
John 17 13 Meaning
John 17:13 presents Jesus in His High Priestly Prayer, communicating to His Father about His impending return to glory and the purpose of His final words spoken to the disciples. The verse conveys Jesus' desire that, despite His physical departure, His disciples might experience His very own joy, completely fulfilled and present within them, sustaining them in a world from which He is leaving.
John 17 13 Context
John chapter 17 is known as Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, spoken just before He crosses the Kidron Valley to Gethsemane, marking the beginning of His passion. This chapter immediately follows Jesus' extended farewell discourse (Jn 13-16) to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion. In this prayer, Jesus transitions from teaching them to interceding for them and for future believers. Verse 13 specifically occurs after Jesus has spoken about His imminent glorification and departure to the Father (Jn 17:1-5) and has prayed for the protection and preservation of His disciples who remain in the world (Jn 17:6-12). His physical absence would bring sorrow, thus He emphasizes the crucial need for them to experience His full, divine joy to sustain them through tribulation and empower their future ministry. The historical context is Passover week in Jerusalem, with the weight of His impending arrest, trial, and crucifixion looming, making His concern for their joy particularly poignant.
John 17 13 Word analysis
- But now: (Νῦν δέ, Nyn de) A strong transition from the previous thoughts, signifying immediacy and a shift in focus. It highlights that the time for His departure is at hand.
- I am coming to You: (ἔρχομαι πρὸς σέ, erchomai pros se) The use of the present tense ("I am coming") emphasizes the certainty and imminent nature of Jesus' return to the Father, referring to His ascension and glorification. This movement signifies the culmination of His earthly mission.
- and these things I speak: (ταῦτα λαλῶ, tauta lalō) Refers to the content of His current prayer in chapter 17, and implicitly to His entire preceding discourse in chapters 13-16. His words are purposeful and have an intended effect.
- in the world: (ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, en tō kosmō) The sphere where Jesus has spoken these words and where the disciples will continue to live, facing its hostility and temptations, unlike Jesus who is departing from it.
- so that they may have: (ἵνα ἔχωσιν, hina echōsin) This is a purpose clause, stating the divine intent and desired outcome of Jesus' speaking and praying for His disciples.
- My joy: (τὴν χαρὰν τὴν ἐμήν, tēn charan tēn emēn) Not merely joy that He gives, but His own unique, divine joy, the joy that characterized His perfect communion with the Father and His delight in accomplishing God's will. It is profound, enduring, and rooted in God Himself.
- made full: (πεπληρωμένην, peplērōmenēn) From plēroō (to fill, complete, perfect), a perfect passive participle, indicating a completed state with abiding results. This joy is not partial or fleeting, but complete, abounding, overflowing, and lacking nothing.
- in themselves: (ἐν αὐτοῖς, en autois) Signifies that this joy is not merely an external circumstance but an internal, personal, and abiding reality, fully experienced within their innermost being.
Word-groups by words-group analysis
- "But now I am coming to You": This phrase underscores the impending separation from His disciples, yet His journey is one of purposeful return to the Father for glorification. This ascension is not abandonment but a transition to a new form of relationship and intercession.
- "and these things I speak in the world": Jesus intentionally voices His concerns and His prayer while still physically present on earth. His words serve as both a revelation of His heart and a profound spiritual preparation and assurance for the disciples who will face tribulations in the world He is leaving.
- "so that they may have My joy made full in themselves": The ultimate telos, or goal, of Jesus' prayer and entire discourse for His disciples. It expresses His deep desire for them to experience a complete, satisfying, and enduring inner joy—the same divine joy He possesses—even as they face suffering and sorrow in His physical absence. This fullness of joy would be their strength and testimony.
John 17 13 Bonus section
The "joy" Jesus speaks of is a profound spiritual inheritance. It's His own joy, stemming from perfect obedience to the Father and unhindered fellowship. This differentiates it significantly from mere human happiness, which is often tied to external circumstances. The fulfillment of this joy in believers speaks to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Even as He prays for His own glorification, His focus is profoundly on the well-being and spiritual abundance of those He leaves behind, demonstrating the selfless love at the heart of His intercession. This "fullness" of joy indicates an abundance that can overcome sorrow and fill every aspect of a believer's being.
John 17 13 Commentary
John 17:13 reveals Jesus' profound compassion and foresight for His disciples. Knowing they would face immense sorrow and spiritual conflict after His crucifixion and ascension, He prays for them to experience a complete, inner joy – His own divine joy. This joy is not worldly happiness dependent on circumstances but a supernatural, abiding reality that springs from communion with God and trust in Christ's completed work. His words spoken to them are the conduit for this joy, preparing their hearts to receive the Holy Spirit, who would then empower this joy within them. It demonstrates that the ultimate goal of Christ's work for His people is not just their salvation and preservation, but their spiritual flourishing characterized by deep, unshakable joy, which enables them to endure persecution and fulfill their mission. This full joy, experienced internally, serves as a powerful witness to a world that offers only fleeting happiness.