But now I am coming to You; and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.
Parallel translations
- WEB But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
- KJV And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
- NKJV But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
- NASB But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
- 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus speaks these things aloud so that his disciples may share fully in his joy. His prayer is meant for their encouragement.
Overview
As he returns to the Father, Jesus prays openly in his disciples' hearing so they may possess his own joy in full measure. The joy is not worldly happiness but the deep gladness of fellowship with God that endures through trial. This shows that Christ's high-priestly intercession is intended to strengthen and gladden his people, not only to address the Father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Heb 12:2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Gal 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- John 15:11I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
- John 3:29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
- John 16:22–24So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
- 1 Jn 1:4We write these things so that our joy may be complete.
- Ps 43:4Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God.
- John 16:33I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- John 13:3Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.
- Neh 8:10Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
- Ps 126:5Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
- Rom 14:17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Jn 1:12I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
- Acts 13:52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 17:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.