Today's Verse: John 14:13 (ESV)

zWhatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that athe Father may be glorified in the Son.

z ch. 15:16; 16:23, 24; See Matt. 7:7
a See ch. 13:31

John, in this chapter relates the last words that Jesus spoke to His disciples. The Teacher's Commentary points out that Jesus, by choice, spent the last hours of His life with His disciples explaining how to keep an intimate relationship with God. It is at this point that Jesus starts talking to His disciples about their relationship with God, once He is removed from their presence. He knew that once He was gone, His disciples would feel deserted and alone. He wanted His disciples to know that it was not necessary that He be present to empower them. All they had to do is ask in His name, and whatever they asked would be done.

Today's Comments: For us, this verse means that even in His death and resurrection, Jesus would continue to act in the world and would answer those prayers that we bring to Him. And, in answering our prayers, Jesus brings glory to the Father.

Does this mean that whatever we pray will be answered? The Bible Exposition Commentary attempts to provide us with that answer by suggesting certain conditions that we must meet:

• We must pray in faith. God works through the faithful.
• We must pray in Christ's name. That means that we should ask what Jesus would ask. It means that we just can't ask for anything, we much act responsibly and with Jesus in mind and in our heart.
• We must pray in loving obedience. For example, when we sometimes pray for justice, we may not necessarily pray in loving obedience. We more likely may be praying for revenge.

Christ, then, is our mediator, bringing our prayers before the Father. We pray to the Father (as in the Lord's Prayer) through our mediator and advocate, Jesus Christ. We pray through Jesus as his followers and on His authority. And, when we do that, our prayers will be granted.