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John 17:13

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And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

And {G1161} now {G3568} come I {G2064} to {G4314} thee {G4571}; and {G2532} these things {G5023} I speak {G2980} in {G1722} the world {G2889}, that {G2443} they might have {G2192} my {G1699} joy {G5479} fulfilled {G4137} in {G1722} themselves {G846}.

But now, I am coming to you; and I say these things while I am still in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.

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.

But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.

Commentary

John 17:13 is a poignant moment within Jesus' profound "High Priestly Prayer," offered just before His crucifixion. In this verse, Jesus articulates the ultimate purpose behind His earthly ministry and His imminent departure: the spiritual well-being and profound joy of His disciples, and by extension, all believers.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' extended prayer to the Father, recorded in John chapter 17. Spoken in the upper room on the night of His betrayal, it follows His final discourses to His disciples where He prepared them for His absence, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the challenges they would face. Jesus is transitioning from speaking to His disciples to speaking for them to the Father, revealing His deep concern for their future as He prepares to return to glory.

Key Themes

  • The Purpose of Jesus' Words: Jesus explicitly states that the "things I speak in the world" – His teachings, warnings, and prayers throughout His ministry – are not just for His own sake, but specifically "that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves." His entire earthly ministry, including His final instructions, was designed to cultivate a lasting inner joy in His followers.
  • The Nature of "My Joy": This is not a fleeting, worldly happiness dependent on circumstances, but a deep, abiding spiritual joy that originates from Christ Himself. It is a joy that can exist even amidst tribulation, as Jesus previously promised His disciples peace in a world of trouble (John 16:33). It stems from a secure relationship with God and the knowledge of His love and salvation, a joy that Jesus Himself possessed and desired to share fully.
  • Jesus' Imminent Departure: The phrase "And now come I to thee" signifies Jesus' impending return to the Father, marking the end of His earthly ministry and the beginning of His exaltation. Even as He prepares to leave, His focus remains on the spiritual welfare of those He leaves behind, desiring their full and complete joy. This departure would pave the way for the Holy Spirit to empower them (John 16:7), enabling them to experience this joy.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "joy" here is chara (χαρά), which denotes a deep-seated gladness and delight, a spiritual well-being that is independent of external circumstances. It's a fruit of the Spirit, not mere emotional elation. The word "fulfilled" comes from pleroo (πληρόω), meaning "to make full," "to complete," or "to fill to the brim." This suggests that Jesus desires His disciples to experience His joy not partially, but in its absolute fullness and completion within themselves, a comprehensive and satisfying joy.

Practical Application

For believers today, John 17:13 assures us that the joy of Christ is an inheritance intended for us. This joy is not found in the absence of problems, but in the enduring presence of God and the certainty of His plan. By meditating on Jesus' words, trusting in His finished work, and living in communion with Him, we can experience this profound, Christ-given joy that sustains us through all of life's challenges. It reminds us that God's ultimate desire for His children is their flourishing, marked by a deep, abiding joy in Him, even as we await our own eternal home with Him.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hebrews 12:2 (21 votes)

    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Galatians 5:22 (19 votes)

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

  • John 15:11 (8 votes)

    These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.

  • John 3:29 (6 votes)

    He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

  • John 16:22 (5 votes)

    And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

  • John 16:24 (5 votes)

    Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

  • 1 John 1:4 (4 votes)

    And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.