WHATEVER YOU ASK -- Monday:
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." KJV (John 14:13)
The evening of our Lord's betrayal was a most memorable occasion. In anticipation of His own vicarious sacrifice, and in keeping with the Law, Jesus observed the Passover feast with His disciples. As indicated by His own words, this is what He wanted to do: "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer" (Lk 22:15,NKJV).
John, "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 20:2; 21:7,20), devoted nearly 21% of his total Gospel (183 of 879 verses) to the events of that single evening (13:1-18:28). Although the Gospel of John covers a period of nearly 1,460 days, 21% of it deals exclusively with a single day. It seems wise to become familiar with the words Jesus spoke during that time.
Ponder the magnitude of the events of that evening. Jesus washed
the disciples' feet, revealing the manner of the Kingdom. He told of His coming betrayal, the denial of Peter, His return to heaven, and His coming again. He declared His centrality in the Kingdom, the necessity of abiding in Him, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. All of this was intensely personal, and covered with the mantel of love.
The saying of our text was couched in an answer given to Philip, who had asked, "Show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us" (v 8). In His response, Jesus unveiled the magnitude of the era His death and resurrection would induct. Commencing with His enthronement in glory, a time of "greater works" would be ushered in. It would not be for the Apostles alone, but would be fulfilled, Jesus said, in "he who believes in Me" (14:12). That is certainly not an expression unique to the Apostles.
Part of the involvements of those "greater works" is expressed in these words. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (v 13). Although this promise was directed toward those who would lay the foundation for salvation -- the Apostles -- it was not limited to them. It would be fulfilled on a broader and more extensive scale with them, but describes a certain manner of the Kingdom. Anything blessed of God must be in Christ's name – because of Him, and as a copartner with Him. It must also accrue to the glory of God in the Son.
Jesus commits Himself to do whatever is asked in His name: "that will I do." Note: He does not say, "that will YOU do," but "that will I do." What was asked, therefore, was not something of a personal nature, but something relating to the working of Christ Himself. It was a work that required a reigning Christ, a mediating Savior, and an interceding High Priest. It is something related to what He is doing, the will of God, and the works that were finished from the foundation of the world (Heb 4:3).
Faith is conducive to asking God in the name of Jesus. It compels the heart to seek involvement in the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. As we labor together with God (1 Cor 3:9), living by faith and walking in the Spirit, we will be led to ask for things that only Jesus can do. Faith can convince the heart that our desire to have what Jesus gives, and to experience what Jesus does, will surely be answered from heaven. To such, Jesus says, "I will do it!"
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to see the greatness of Your commitment to those who live for Your Son.