John 17:20 Meaning: Jesus Prays for You Too
“Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word,
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word;
`And not in regard to these alone do I ask, but also in regard to those who shall be believing, through their word, in me;
And I do not demand for these only, but also for those who believe on me through their word;
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus prayed not only for the apostles but for all who would believe through their word. That includes you, learn what that means for your faith today.
Context
Jesus is praying aloud in the upper room, the night before he dies. He has already prayed for the eleven disciples with him, that God would keep them, sanctify them, and send them into the world. Now he turns toward you. He shifts from the small circle in that room to every person who would ever believe in him through the message those disciples would carry. The chapter is often called Jesus' high priestly prayer, and this verse is its hinge: the prayer swings open to include every believer in every age.
Key Words
Three Greek words give this verse its weight. Erōtaō, 'I pray' or 'I ask', is not a demand from someone with authority to command. It is a personal request, the kind a close son makes to his father. Jesus is not issuing orders; he is asking, and he asks the Father who always hears him.
Pisteuontōn is the present participle of 'believe'. The oldest manuscripts read 'those who believe', not 'those who will believe'. Jesus sees future believers as already there. Your faith, even centuries later, was present to him that night.
Logos, 'word', means the message the apostles spoke and later wrote. It is not a vague spiritual transmission but a specific testimony: what they saw, heard, and touched (1 John 1:1). That word is how faith comes. You are connected to Jesus through their words.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree this verse shows Jesus praying for all who would ever follow him, not just those in the upper room. Reformed commentators like Calvin call it a 'safe harbour' for every believer; Wesleyan writers like Clarke say it 'extends through all ages and takes in every soul that believes.'
Catholic and Orthodox readers see here the foundation of apostolic succession, faith handed down through the teaching of the apostles and their successors. Evangelical readers emphasize that this prayer is answered whenever someone hears the gospel message and responds in faith. Both readings affirm the same wonder: Jesus had you in mind before you were born.
A common misunderstanding
Some imagine Jesus' prayer in John 17 only covers the apostles or early Christians, that verses like this one are recorded for their encouragement, not ours. In fact, Jesus deliberately widens his prayer in this verse. The phrase 'not for these only' is the whole point. He prays for 'those who will believe in me through their word', that includes every Christian who has ever come to faith through the apostolic message. The prayer was for them, and it is for you.
Living This Out
This week, when you open your Bible, try this: sit with the thought that Jesus prayed for you by name before you existed. Not a vague blessing, but a specific request to the Father that you would be one with other believers and that the world would see his love through you.
It might change how you hear a difficult passage. It might soften the edge of a conflict with another Christian. The same Son of God who asked the Father to keep the eleven is asking the same for you, right now, on the other side of that prayer.
Main takeaway: Jesus prayed for you personally before you were born, and that prayer still carries you today.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus prayed a special prayer for his friends. Then he said, 'And I pray for all the people who will love me someday.' That means he prayed for you! Even before you were born, Jesus was already talking to his Father about you.
For ages 9, 12
In John 17:20, Jesus is praying the night before he dies. He has just asked God to protect and keep his disciples. But then he does something surprising: he keeps praying, for you. He says he is not only praying for the friends in the room, but for everyone who will believe in him through the message those friends will spread. That is how the Bible came to us. The apostles wrote down what they saw, and through their words people in every generation have come to trust Jesus. You are part of Jesus' prayer, and that means you matter to him more than you know.
Questions People Ask
Does John 17:20 mean Jesus prayed for me personally?
Yes. Jesus does not say 'some future Christians' in a general sense. He says 'those who will believe in me through their word.' If you believe in Jesus because of the apostolic message, the New Testament, then you are included. He knew you would be there, and he prayed for you.
What does 'through their word' mean in this verse?
It means through the message the apostles preached and later wrote down. The apostles were eyewitnesses of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Their word, the gospel they proclaimed, is the instrument God uses to bring people to faith. Today we have that word in the New Testament.
Does this prayer apply to all Christians or only some?
It applies to all who believe in Jesus through the apostolic word. This includes every Christian in every denomination and every time period. The commentators universally agree that Jesus prays here for the whole church, not a select group within it.
How should we respond to knowing Jesus prayed for us?
We can respond with confidence and gratitude. When you doubt whether God sees you or cares, remember that Jesus specifically prayed for you. That prayer is still effective. It can also motivate you to share the same apostolic word so others can be included in that prayer too.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study