Are you puzzled by the things God does and teaches you at times? The disciples certainly were. Chapter 16 of John’s Gospel is full of confusion for the disciples but then there is a revelatory moment. An “Ah-Ha moment”.
Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does He mean when He says, ‘In a little while you won’t see Me, but then you will see Me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? And what does He mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”
John 16:17-18
At that time you won’t need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in My name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father Himself loves you dearly because you love Me and believe that I came from God.
John 16:23-27
Ask the Father directly “in My name”, He himself loves you and will grant your request. You will have direct access to the Father. That after all is why Jesus came, to restore relationship and access to God the Father. Note the repetition in this passage which reiterates the essence of John 14:14 – the blank cheque verse. You won’t need to ask Jesus for anything – you have direct access and right to enter to very throne room of God and ask what you need. If you are confused, ask for clarification. Most often we see this verse in terms of our physical needs or our typical prayer requests. Note the context of these verses – at that time you won’t need to ask for anything. When is “at that time”? When Jesus has ascended to the Father and the transaction of the cross is completed. I.e. the new covenant is established. Note these statements about asking for anything are in the setting of the disciples’ confusion.
Then we have three fold repetition of the “ask anything in my name” thought.
- “Because you use My name”
- “Ask, using My name”.
- “You will ask in My name”.
Do that and the Father Himself will see to it. Jesus doesn’t need to ask on your behalf. The Father Himself loves you and wants to take care of your requests and your confusion.
WHY JESUS IS BETTER THAN SANTA CLAUS! Santa lives at the North Pole. JESUS is everywhere.
Anon
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Regina Brett
If we are not hated by someone, we don’t know enough people, or we don’t speak enough truth.
John Piper