John 17:6
“I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.”
What does John 17:6 mean?
Jesus is speaking to God the Father about the disciples he's gathered, and he's reflecting on what he's accomplished in them. When he says he "revealed your name," he means he's shown people who God really is, not just told them about God in abstract terms, but demonstrated God's character through his own life and teachings. The phrase "they were yours, and you have given them to me" captures something beautiful: these people always belonged to God, and Jesus received them as a gift to shepherd and teach. By saying "they have kept your word," Jesus acknowledges that his followers have held onto what he taught them, even when it was difficult or unpopular, and that this faithfulness matters deeply to him as he prepares to leave them.