John 17:9-10

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. And all things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.”

Jesus' prayer is ‘for those whom you have given me.' Those ‘who are given to Him' strictly means true believers. But He goes on later to distinguish between the Apostles and those who will believe through their word (John 17:20) so that clearly here He has the Apostles primarily in mind here. These are the subject of His special prayer here.

‘I do not pray for the world.' This is not because He is not concerned for the world. Along with His Father He loves the world (John 3:16). It is because at this moment in time the hope of the world lies in this small group of men given to Him by the Father.

He stresses the wonderful fact that while they have been given to Him, they also belong to the Father (‘they are Yours') because He and the Father share all things mutually. And He emphasises that they will bring Him great glory. That is why He selects them out for His prayers.

‘All things -- that are yours are mine.' It is impossible in this phrase to avoid the implication of total equality of Father and Son, otherwise it would simply not be true. What the Father has, the Son has, and vice versa (compare John 16:15).

‘I am glorified in them.' Jesus was to be glorified by being lifted up on a cross and then through His resurrection and ascension to the throne of God. But He will receive further glory because of these chosen men, who by their dedication, sacrifice and suffering will bring about the fulfilment of His purposes, ‘filling up that which is lacking of the sufferings of Christ' by taking His name to the world in the face of all the consequences (Colossians 1:24).