John 17 Bible Study

What "words" (John 17:1) had Jesus just spoken?
His final instructions and encouragements to His eleven disciples (see John 15 and John 16) until He sees them again in three days.

What is Jesus doing in John 17:1?
He is beginning to pray to God the Father.

What "hour" (John 17:1) had come?
The time for Jesus to let Himself be arrested, tried and crucified.

What does Jesus mean by "Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You" (John 17:1)?
God the Father and God the Son, the Creator of the universe who needed nothing, chose to commission and obey, respectively, the Son entering our sinful world as a baby, living a sinless life, and then dying to pay the death penalty due for our sins (see "Glorified" meaning).

Why is the glorification in John 17:1 circular?
God the Father and Son are in complete union.

Who has the authority over all human beings?
Jesus: "You have given Him authority over all flesh" (John 17:2).

Who gets "everlasting life" (John 17:2)?
“As many as” (John 17:2) the Father “has given" (John 17:2) to Jesus.

What did Jesus do with His eyes when He began to pray?
"Jesus ... lifted up His eyes to heaven" (John 17:1).

Why didn't He close His eyes to pray?
The Bible neither instructs nor has examples of anyone closing eyes or clasping hands to pray.

Then why do Christians today close eyes and clasp hands to pray?
To block out distractions, but also by tradition.

Should it be continued?
It can be but isn't required. We can also pray with our eyes open while walking, driving, taking public transport, exercising, etc., for we are to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). But it is important to also reserve the best time of our day, preferably early in the morning, to commune with God as Jesus instructed: "when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father" (Matthew 6:6). And as He demonstrated, praying to God the Father should be our heart's desire, not feel like an obligation, for we want to spend time with the One we love.