Asking in the Name of Jesus

“And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (Jn 14:13-14).

Here in chapter 14 of the gospel of John, we have repeatedly seen Jesus emphasize His connection to the Father.  “If you have known Me, you have known the Father.  If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.”  Jesus now extends that connection to answered prayer.

I think “asking in Jesus’ name” is recognizing that Jesus is our way to the Father; here talking specifically about prayer.  Just a few verses above, Jesus called Himself “the way” to the Father.  “No one comes to the Father, but through Me” (Jn 14:6).  Now the focus in on Jesus as the way to the Father in prayer.

Jesus will answer our prayer – “I will do it” – by working in unison with the Father – “the Father abiding in Me does His works” (Jn 14:10) – to carry out the answer.

Now let’s admit right off the top that this promise of answered prayer looks basically unlimited.  Is Jesus promising that a string of “yes” answers is about to come our way?  “Whatever you ask … Ask Me anything … and I will do it.”  I have written often about prayer, faith, boldness, etc and here are just a few of those posts:  What Do You Want Me to Do for You?     Our Counterattack – Prayer and Faith     Parenting with the Parables – The Persistent Widow     Can Faith Change the Outcome?     Can Faith Control the Outcome?

In the specific verses above from John 14, notice Jesus’ words, “This I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”  Somehow, our requests, Jesus’ answers, and Jesus’ actions will all line up to bring God glory.  Somehow, God’s glory as seen in the Son will be displayed in our answered prayers.

Our humble role before the Lord is to never give up in prayer.  To call upon the Lord at all times.  To “devote ourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Col 4:2).  And to look for the glory of God displayed in His answers.

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