John 16:1-33
There is a great deal of Jesus speaking about the Holy Spirit in today’s reading. See my comments in the first link below.
Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. (v. 16b) This statement is so true in our own time, with Islamic extremists convinced that their murder of western Christians will bring them eternal life before Allah. So sad. I pray often for God to intervene for His people in this “holy war” that they are waging. But, no doubt, He loves each and every Moslem who is fighting against His Son.
I posted yesterday on Jesus’ comments about “asking”, that He twice discussed the topic of asking. Again today He speaks of the disciples’ asking and again He repeats Himself: Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (vv. 23b-24) … <and> … In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf… (v. 26) In repeating Himself on this topic, Jesus seems to elevate the disciples’ position before the Father, that they can go directly to the Father with their petitions “in Jesus’ name” without needing Jesus’ direct intercession, again only that they ask “in My name”. That is, it seems to be the case that we have these two “asking” options in our prayer life, to ask the Father directly or to ask Jesus to intercede with the Father for us. Am I reading and interpreting this passage correctly? Your thoughts…?
See also: November 6 / John 16:1-15; November 7 / John 16:16-24; November 8 / John 16:25-33
Good question Fred. Do we ask or pray to God directly or indirectly through Jesus’s intercession? IMHO, they are the same. Jesus is interceding for us, so whether we ask Him to or not, He is. The Lord’s prayer teaches us to pray directly to Our Father, so I tend to use that language.
A corollary question is whether we pray to God the Father, Jesus the Christ, or the Holy Spirit. For example, do we pray for guidance to the Spirit or to other or all of the persons? Again IMHO, it is the same. It’s not either/or but yes. I just don’t visualize a switchboard transferring our calls all around. You hit the big point I heard, asking in His name means to ask in His character and will.
Hi y’all,
A few days behind on reading comments…, but it seems to me that the question of WHO is moot if we accept the Trinity. Wrapping my brain around that concept is my challenge! And yes, I affirm that the more important point of praying is being in his will.
Also, I really loved reading the list and comments Fred made about the work of the Spirit—very comforting that this person of the Trinity is at work in our lives.