The book of John is so special for several reasons. If you’ve read the other three gospels, it’s quite clear that the feel of it is different. It’s less of a historical account and more of a passionate account written by a man who was a disciple of Jesus. Things are not included in John that you read in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Things are included in John that are not included in the other three. There are a lot of “I am” statements Jesus makes. The same argument can be made for all the gospels, but I think this one is extra-superb.
As you read your way through John, you’ll notice messages or themes that are recurring. (The “I am” statements being one such example.) Right around chapters 14-16, the theme of asking appears quite a few times:
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13-14
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:16
Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23-24
You may be thinking to yourself that that’s a lot of mentions in a very short amount of text. You may not be thinking that at all. Rather, you may be thinking about asking for a million dollars. Either way, it’s a lot of mentions about asking and receiving in a short amount of text, and I don’t believe it will do you any good to ask for a million dollars.
If you’ve been in the faith for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard about the Jesus in a bottle. Jesus is a bottle is a sort of deity we create in our minds that answers our wishes and nothing else. Prayer only consists of asking for things. And if we’re honest, we’re asking for things that are in no way God-glorifying.
It can be extremely easy and dangerous for our faith to turn into a faith that only exists to serve our wants. This is the opposite of Christianty.
If you take a look at the verses again, most of them pair asking with glorifying the father. Asking in Jesus’ name. What does this mean? Praying in Jesus’ name means to glorify him, not ourselves.
We get upset when we don’t receive a favorable answer to our prayers. We look at these verses and think, “why are my prayers not being answered then?” To ask in Jesus’ name means to glorify him, meaning our self exaltation prayers are of no use. What is your heart really focused on when you’re praying? How you can best serve the Father or how you can further yourself in this world?
Don’t be afraid to boldly ask in faith, but be sure you’re not treating Jesus like a genie in a bottle.
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