John 17 is often read as a conversation between Jesus and the Father, but Neville Goddard teaches that it actually describes an inner dialogue within a single consciousness. In this framework, the “Father” is the deep I AM—the unconditioned awareness underlying all perception—while references to “disciples,” “believers,” or “the world” do not point to literal people or crowds. Instead, they symbolise various aspects of mind—imagination, memory, will, emotion, intellect—that must be aligned under one assumption. This article interprets John 17 as a psychological blueprint for maintaining the fulfilled wish within every facet of the psyche, ensuring that no inner “faculty” remains discordant.
“Father, the Hour Has Come. Glorify Your Son…”
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that the Son may glorify you.”
In Neville’s teaching, the term “Father” signifies the deep I AM, the ground of all being that is always present. “Son” represents the conscious “I”—the aware self that experiences life through the five senses. When Jesus says “Father,” he is addressing that deeper I AM within himself, reminding it of their unity. “The hour has come” indicates that the inner conviction—“I am one with you”—has matured fully. There is no pleading from lack here; rather, it is a statement of fact: “Father (my own deeper awareness), reveal the reality we already share.” Psychologically, this is the conscious mind affirming to the subconscious that the fulfilled wish—perfect unity—is already true.
“And Now, Glorify Me with the Glory I Had with You…”
“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
All reality is present, according to Neville. Even while the body appears under threat, the conscious “I” must dwell in the end result: the felt state of complete union. The “glory” here is not a future reward but the immediate experience of oneness. By declaring “And now… with the glory I had,” the conscious self cements that assumption in every layer of mind—imagination, memory, and emotion alike. Psychologically, this is living from the fulfilled wish: mentally and emotionally placing oneself into that state, irrespective of external appearances.
“I Have Given Them Your Word, and the World Has Hated Them”
“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”
Here “the world” symbolises the realm of sensory impressions and outer circumstances that contradict the inner assumption. “Them” stands for the various mental faculties—imagination, will, intellect, and emotion—that have already accepted the inner “word” (the assumption of unity). When these faculties align under that assumption, “the world” or outer appearances naturally resist. Psychologically, once a mental faculty assumes a higher reality, it meets opposition from parts of the psyche still anchored in fear or lack. Acknowledging “they are not of the world” means those aligned faculties refuse to be swayed by contradictory impressions, insulating the entire mind against doubt.
“My Prayer Is Not That You Take Them Out of the World…”
“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
Neville teaches that ascension of consciousness does not require physical withdrawal from adversity; it demands an unwavering inner assumption. “Protect them” refers to preserving every mental faculty—imagination, memory, will, emotion—in the assumption of oneness. No longer is the goal to flee outer adversity; rather, it is to remain invulnerable within. “The evil one” represents the negative voices—fear, doubt, conflicting beliefs—that arise in any part of the psyche. By maintaining the fulfilled wish at every mental level, all inner opposition is rendered powerless.
“Holy Father, Protect Them by the Power of Your Name…”
“Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me… None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction.”
“Holy Father” refers to the unchangeable I AM, the subconscious reservoir that never wavers. To “protect them by the power of your name” means to guard each aspect of mind—imagination, will, intellect, emotion—through the shield of inner assumption. Neville would say that assuming one’s identity as the Son (the fulfilled wish of unity with I AM) acts as an impenetrable defense against doubt. The only “lost” faculty is the one that outright rejects the assumption, effectively severing itself. Psychologically, if imagination, for example, refuses to accept unity, it remains at odds with the rest, undermining coherence. Jesus’ statement highlights that once all mental faculties remain in that one assumption, they are protected from internal conflict.
“I Am Coming to You Now, but I Say These Things While I Am Still in the World…”
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”
“I am coming to you” signifies the merging of conscious levels—the personalised “I” (ego level) reuniting fully with the deeper I AM (subconscious/unconscious). Psychologically, Jesus announces the shift from outer identification to complete inner awareness of unity, which Neville calls “living from the end.” “Full measure of my joy” indicates that joy is not a distant prize but a present reality. The conscious “I” wants every mental faculty—every part of the mind—to experience that joy now, not later. Even if circumstances seem dire, the fulfilled wish—joyful unity—remains the dominant assumption across all layers of mind.
“Sanctify Them by the Truth; Your Word Is Truth”
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
To “sanctify” means to set apart or consecrate in consciousness. “Truth” is the undiluted assumption that there is only one consciousness—Father and Son as one. This verse instructs the conscious “I” to bring every inner faculty—imagination, will, memory, emotion—under that single thought. Neville described this as “consecrating the mind to one thought.” Repeating “your word is truth” waters the subconscious until all contradictory beliefs are dissolved. Psychologically, the mind can entertain only one dominating assumption at a time; anchoring it in unity displaces all lesser, fearful narratives.
“That All of Them May Be One…”
“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.”
“All of them” symbolises each mental faculty—imagination, will, intellect, memory, emotion—coming into perfect alignment with the assumption. Neville emphasised that when all aspects of consciousness hold the same assumption, its power magnifies. Here, Jesus prays that every part of the mind mirror the unity between the conscious “I” and the deeper I AM. As each internal function aligns, a feedback loop occurs: the subconscious supports the conscious mind, and the conscious mind reassures the subconscious, culminating in complete inner harmony. That inner unity inevitably produces outward unity—clear thinking, consistent feeling, decisive action—so that the “outer world” (the realm of appearances) conforms to the fulfilled wish.
“Father, I Want Them to Be with Me Where I Am, and to See My Glory…”
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me.”
“Those you have given me” refers to all mental faculties. “Where I am” is the state of complete unity with the deep I AM—beyond fear, doubt, or limitation. Psychologically, Jesus prays that imagination, memory, will, intellect, and emotion jointly occupy his exact state: unshakable oneness. “To see my glory” is to perceive, in the mind’s eye, the felt sensation of that unity. Visualising and feeling this inner scene—across all mental faculties—creates a blueprint that the subconscious carries into outer experience. When imagination envisions, memory recalls, will affirms, intellect understands, and emotion feels that unity, the fulfilled wish permeates every function of mind, making manifestation inevitable.
Summariing Nevillean Psychology of the Appeal
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“Father” as the Deep I AM
Every invocation of “Father” is an address to the unchanging subconscious. The apparent dialogue between “Jesus” (conscious “I”) and “Father” is simply the mind affirming its deeper reality. -
Prayer as Declaration of the Fulfilled Wish
Each prayer in John 17 is not a petition to an external deity but an affirmation that the fulfilled wish—perfect unity with I AM—is already complete. Psychologically, stating “I have,” “I am,” and “I know” fortifies every mental faculty in that assumption. -
Maintaining Assumption Amid Apparent Opposition
Although outer impressions (“the world”) may seem hostile, the inner state of unity remains invulnerable when all mental faculties stay aligned. Adversity is no longer impactful once every part of the mind refuses to leave the fulfilled-wish assumption. -
Transference of Consciousness to Every Faculty
“I in them” means the conscious “I” infuses every aspect of mind with its own assumed state. Neville taught that once a state is fully embodied, it radiates outward—here, to each mental function—creating seamless inner alignment. -
Complete Inner Unity as the Path to Manifestation
When imagination, memory, will, intellect, and emotion all share the same assumption of unity, their collective resonance births the external evidence. Outer circumstances simply mirror this perfected inner harmony.
Practical Takeaways for Nevillean Inner Work
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Address Your Deep I AM as “Father”
When you hold a desire, speak inwardly to the Father (your subconscious): “Father, I now occupy the state of perfect health. Reveal its evidence.” Affirm that every faculty—imagination, memory, emotion, intellect, will—is already in harmony with this conviction. -
Use Present-Tense Language for the Fulfilled Wish
Replace “I hope” or “I want” with “I am,” “I know,” and “I have.” For example: “Father, I am already living in the consciousness of abundance.” This cements the assumption across all mental functions. -
Keep Every Faculty in “Where I Am”
Identify the feeling you want—joy, peace, success—as your current inner state. Refuse to abandon that mood, whether imagination conjures scenes of lack, memory recalls past failures, the intellect questions, or emotion wavers. Gently re-anchor each function in the assumed state. -
Embed the Fulfilled Wish in the Subconscious
Achieve this by consistent inner dialogue, sensory-rich imagery, and emotional conviction. Whenever doubt arises in any faculty, remind it of the fulfilled wish. Over time, this practice locks the assumption into the subconscious as its default. -
Ensure Every Mental Aspect Is Aligned
Periodically scan your imagination, memory, will, intellect, and emotion: are they all functioning from the assumption of unity? If one faculty drifts—say, the intellect doubts—bring it back by affirming “Father, we all abide in the one consciousness.” Alignment of all parts makes manifestation swift and certain.
By interpreting John 17 as a map of inner processes rather than a literal narrative of historical figures, we see how Neville Goddard’s Law of Assumption operates at every mental level. Each statement instructs the conscious “I” on how to hold the fulfilled wish across imagination, memory, will, intellect, and emotion. When all these facets dwell in the unity of “I in them, and you in me,” the outer world conforms to that inner harmony, and the fulfilled wish becomes inevitable.
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