John 17:25
“Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.”
What does John 17:25 mean?
Jesus is praying to God on the eve of his crucifixion, addressing him as "Righteous Father" to emphasize God's justice and character. He's acknowledging a painful reality: the world at large has rejected knowledge of who God truly is, yet Jesus himself has always known God intimately, and his disciples have come to believe that God sent him. There's both sadness and hope in these words, as Jesus recognizes that while the broader world remains spiritually closed off, his followers have grasped the deepest truth. It's a reminder that knowing God isn't automatic or inevitable, but comes through personal recognition of who Jesus is and his relationship with the Father.