Letters to the Prison - Week 163

Hello, everyone.  We’re continuing our study of John.  Last week, Jesus laid out a stunning reality about those who believe in him:
  • “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father-John 14:12

We began to touch on the sort of works Jesus is referring to and how they might be “greater.”  We observed the end result of the works his disciples did shortly after his departure: That more people would believe in God and turn to him.  The book of Acts records numerous such works.  This is why the book is widely referred to as the “Acts of the Apostles.”  Very often, these amazing works are directly associated with the spread of the Gospel –the Good News about Jesus.  They served to validate the Apostles’ message to new people in new places as they travelled and preached. But in the record, the works themselves aren’t “greater” in terms of what actually happened… it’s not like Peter healed more lame people than Jesus did… or that Paul raised someone who had been dead five days instead of four (like Lazarus was).  The “greater” nature of the works was in their outcome… the impact they had on the believing community… the number of people who believed and turned to the Lord as a result of the works.  That is the “greater” nature of the works Jesus’ disciples would do.  Another key thing to notice about what Jesus is saying here:  Those “greater works” won’t happen because of how amazing or strong or powerful the Apostles are.  They will be possible because Jesus is “going to the Father.”  The importance of this fact will come to light in a few verses, but for now we need to consider what Jesus says next:
  • Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.-John 14:13-14

Here’s where things can get hugely misunderstood.  At first glance, some might think what Jesus is saying here is that believers suddenly have a license to pray for whatever we want.  There is a fairly popular and growing movement based on this misunderstanding where, with enough faith and fervent prayer, believers can “name it and claim it.”  It’s a “prosperity” Gospel…  Jesus wants to richly bless us in this world.  Since his name has power, we just ask for things in his name, and we should get them.  We just have to have faith and pray hard.  In this misunderstanding, when we pray for that raise or the new car or the million dollars, or even when we pray for safety or healing for our loved ones… if we don’t receive it, it’s not God’s fault…  it’s ours because we didn’t have enough faith… we didn’t pray earnestly enough.  But this isn’t at all what Jesus is saying in these verses.  Sometimes, sincere and earnest Christians will literally add the words “in Jesus’ name” to their prayers as if they’re signing a letter or validating or confirming that their prayer is in compliance with what Jesus is saying here.  And while such a phrase might help to remind them that they’re making an effort to pray correctly according to Jesus’ instructions, such use of a rote phrase can get to be repetitive and formulaic and can still mislead us into thinking we can pray for what we want “in Jesus’ name” and have it come to pass.

The key to correctly understanding what it means to pray for something “in Jesus’ name” has everything to do with the idea that, when we ask for something in the name of Jesus, we’re asking so that “the Father may be glorified in the Son.”  We’ll consider this carefully next week.

Dean A.

Recent

Archive

 2022
 November
A Day of Celebration?Letters to the Prison - Week 25Letters to the Prison - Week 26Letters to the Prison - Week 27Letters to the Prison - Week 28Letters to the Prison - Week 29Letters to the Prison - Week 30Letters to the Prison - Week 31Letters to the Prison - Week 32Letters to the Prison - Week 33Letters to the Prison - Week 34Letters to the Prison - Week 35Letters to the Prison - Week 36Letters to the Prison - Week 37Letters to the Prison - Week 38Letters to the Prison - Week 39Letters to the Prison - Week 40Letters to the Prison - Week 41Letters to the Prison - Week 44Letters to the Prison - Week 45Letters to the Prison - Week 46Letters to the Prison - Week 47Letters to the Prison - Week 48Letters to the Prison - Week 49Letters to the Prison - Week 50Letters to the Prison - Week 51Letters to the Prison - Week 52Letters to the Prison - Week 53Letters to the Prison - Week 54Letters to the Prison - Week 55Letters to the Prison - Week 56Letters to the Prison - Week 57Letters to the Prison - Week 58Letters to the Prison - Week 59Letters to the Prison - Week 60Letters to the Prison - Week 61Letters to the Prison - Week 62Letters to the Prison - Week 63Letters to the Prison - Week 64Letters to the Prison - Week 65Letters to the Prison - Week 66Letters to the Prison - Week 67Letters to the Prison - Week 68Letters to the Prison - Week 69Letters to the Prison - Week 70Letters to the Prison - Week 71Letters to the Prison - Week 72Letters to the Prison - Week 73Letters to the Prison - Week 74Letters to the Prison - Week 75Letters to the Prison - Week 76Letters to the Prison - Week 77Letters to the Prison - Week 78Letters to the Prison - Week 79Letters to the Prison - Week 80Letters to the Prison - Week 81Letters to the Prison - Week 82Letters to the Prison - Week 83Letters to the Prison - Week 84Letters to the Prison - Week 86Letters to the Prison - Week 87Letters to the Prison - Week 88Letters to the Prison - Week 89

Categories

Tags