seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
OK... I've been in the Bible for a long, long, long time. I still don't understand these verses. Let me set the scene and maybe that will help me. They have just finished the foot washing. Judas has gone to meet the Pharisees and betray Jesus. Jesus and the rest are "sitting" [more like laying] around the table. Jesus just told them He's leaving them. They should be in panic mode. The disciples thought they had found their King David or King Solomon. They thought He would lead them to battle against the Roman Occupation. The mother of the Zebedee boys, James and John, was picking out the fabric for her sons' thrones.
They thought Jesus would rule the world in a kinder, gentler, way. Through acts of kindness, Jesus had amassed an "army" of Believers. He had thousands of followers. They watched Him perform miraculous healings. They were there when He healed the man who had been blind since birth. They were there when He healed a man who had been paralyzed for so long, he was a fixture at the baths. They were there when He called Lazarus, dead as a doornail Lazarus.... stinky in the grave for three days, Lasarus, from the tomb and set him free. Lazarus was alive! They saw Him talk to His Father, and they heard the thunderous or angelic voice.
They were all ready to crown Him king.... and now... He says He's leaving. "See ya later alligator, I'm going home to Dad's".
Now.... look at verses 13 and 14. I know they get misquoted a lot! Jesus simply won't do "anything" you ask in His name. What you ask has to "glorify the Father". Robbing a bank, beating you neighbor's dog, smearing malicious poop on the good name of a good man, cutting off a guard's ear, stealing from the poor, failing to help the homeless, murdering children, amassing a "crusade" to kill in the Father's name, or perverting the Message, will never "glorify the Father". It's just not going to do you any good to ask Jesus to help you slaughter and deceive. If it doesn't "glorify the Father", your request will only serve to prove your worthlessness.
If Jesus asked God to let Him be just a human king, like David or Solomon, that would not have "glorified the Father". Jesus was there to die and then get back up and walk out of the tomb. He had to go to the grave to undo what Adam and Eve did back in the Garden. This was the mission. If Jesus is to "glorify the Father" He has to go through with the Mission. He has to leave these humans to continue His work. If they work using "Acts of kindness" the world will be a better place. There will be eternal life for them and all who Believe.
If they asked Jesus to stay, He could not have done as they asked. If He stayed, it would not "glorify the Father".
He "could" do anything they asked. He wouldn't [won't] do anything they ask that will not "glorify the Father". He just won't.
Stop misquoting verse 14. Jesus simply won't do "anything" we ask.
