“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.” John 16:25-27.
As stated before, the Lord used figurative language here so the disciples would focus on the instructions He was giving them, rather than feverishly trying to think of a way to avoid His imminent crucifixion.
Jesus’ words were not always obscure; in fact He was quite plain when He presented Himself to Israel as their Messiah.
However, there came a point when the nation rejected Him, saying that He did His miracles by the power of Beelzebub, lord of the flies, see Matthew 12:22-45.
After this He only spoke to the multitudes in parables.
“And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given, for whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.’” Matthew 13:10-13.
“For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears…” Matthew 13:15a.
“All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them…” Matthew 13:34.
The nation of Israel rejected their Messiah because they had become spiritually complacent and inattentive.
Their heart had grown dull toward God; they had become blind and deaf to His words and miracles. This is the reason the Lord would often call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
They came to see miracles and hear a lovely sermon; but were they really listening? Did they have any idea of what they had heard?
I believe that anyone could have approached Jesus as the disciples did, and say, “You know, I did not understand a word You said, would You please explain?” The Lord would always answer an honest question; but how many honest questions were there?
Buried within the quotes above is a disturbing principle.
“For who ever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” Matthew 13:12.
For those who have, that is to say, who value what they have, more will be given. But for those who do not have, that is to say, they do not value what they do have, even that will be taken away.
This is what happened to the Israelites, they had the history, the promises of God, the Scriptures, appointed feasts, synagogues to worship in, and His favor over all the nations, and they threw it away.
They became complacent, thinking that since they were a nation chosen by God, with His temple in their holy city of Jerusalem that made them holy and righteous in God’s sight.
So if they sort of kept His law and made their sacrifices God’s favor would remain on them. Because they became dull toward God, the little they had was taken away.
That is what is happening in this country today, Christians have become dull in their Christianity, leaving the Jesus stuff for others to do, and becoming Sunday Christians only, while the really important things are neglected during their work week.
Being a Christian is a full time job and an ever learning process. Those who do not make time to learn, read, pray, and listen to God, will have what little they have taken away.
The rest will be taken away by the state, which has become more and more grasping and godless through the lack of Christian moral opposition.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23b-24.
“In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.” John 16:26-27.
The first thing that should be noted here is that prayer is conversation with God. People try to make things too difficult because they think there should be some sort of formula, what with Him being so big and austere, not to mention in heaven which is far away.
“Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:23-24.
“…for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.” John 16:27.
While these words were spoken to the disciples by the Lord; stop looking at it that way. These words are spoken by Jesus to you, take hold of that fact right now.
Do not rationalize that they are meant to be for you only if you are the best of Christians that you work in the church, sing in the choir, or read your Bible daily.
Do not believe that you cannot approach God the Father without pleading with Jesus to intercede for you, or Mary, Saint Paul, or Saint Peter.
But what does it say, “…for the Father Himself loves you”, and why does He love you; because you have honored His Son by loving Him and accepting Him as your savior.
It is important for those who have not accepted Christ as their savior to know that God loves them too. God is love, which is why He sent His Son to die for our sins, so we could be in His presence for eternity. But sin has separated mankind from God.
As a result of men having rejected Christ as savior their prayers are rejected. However, the prayer of salvation is always heard by God, and often He will mercifully rescue those who call out to Him when they or a loved one are in danger.
Just as we do not need to come to God through some mechanical routine like pleading through a saint, or doing certain good works, so too, our prayers do not need to be mechanical and basically meaningless.
Day after day of, “God, I am sorry for my sins, I am sorry for not being more loving, help me at work, in Jesus name, Amen.” These are all pretty generic and do not profit you or God.
Sins should be named specifically; it does not matter if you cannot remember them all; those that come to mind are enough.
Ask for ways to be more loving to your spouse, for love for someone who is difficult; for that matter ask for the ability to forgive them.
Ask the Lord to intervene at work, show you what you might be doing wrong, give you favor in the sight of your supervisor, and to help you be more productive.
“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” Psalm 62:5-8.
“…pour out your heart before Him”, our expectation is from God, God alone is our rock, our anchor, our strength.
He is our salvation, not only from hell, but our salvation in times of need, our defense in times of peril. God is our salvation, glory, a rock, our strength, refuge, and a high tower to run into in times of distress.
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:5.
It is good to have friends, counselors, and allies; but when all is said and done, it is God who will fight the battle. He must be the first one we go to and the only one to decide the outcome.
King David spoke these words to the Lord when He had delivered him from all of his enemies, including King Saul.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in Him I will trust, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” 2 Samuel 22:2-4.
“But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge.” Psalm 94:22.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah” Psalm 46:1-3.
If you really want to see the power of God, pray; if you do not ask, you will not see results. Prayer is a good way to develop your faith because you can see your heavenly Father work on your behalf.
Always give thanks for answered prayer, give thanks for everything else too; giving thanks reminds us of just how much we really are blessed, otherwise we may miss them.
Pray for the safety of your loved ones, pray for the salvation of your family, friends, or some public figure, a politician, movie star that you like, or a child or someone you see in the supermarket, those in peril or missing that you see in the news; you may be the only one praying for these people.
“Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children…” Lamentations 2:19a.
Pray for this country as it sinks into its own filth and lawlessness. Prayer will either rescue the Titanic from sinking, or we can rescue those floating in the water as it goes down, but we cannot justify silence.
“…pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us, hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16.
“I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.” His disciples said to Him. ‘See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.’” John 16:28-30.
Jesus had not made things much clearer, but again it appears as though the disciples had heard the first sentence of His declaration without hearing the second one referring to His departure.
As a result what they found plain was His claim to deity, which they understood already.
Judging by Jesus’ gentle reply in the next three verses He was aware that they did not have a clue.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.’” John 16:31-32.
The reference to the sheep being scattered is repeated again in Matthew 26:31 on the way to the garden of Gethsemane.
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: “I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.’” Matthew 26:30-33.
Some five hundred years earlier, the prophet Zechariah wrote about the scattering of the sheep. The words that follow this prophecy (Zechariah 13:7b omitted here) and on concern events that occur during the tribulation period, which will happen in the not too distant future, judging by world conditions.
“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion,” says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered…” Zechariah 13:7a.
“…yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” because Jesus through the Holy Spirit dwells within the Christian, they are never alone either.
We must practice His presence by communing with Him daily and remembering that He loves us, no matter what our circumstances.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
There will always be tribulation of one sort or another while we are in this world. Primarily tribulation will come because the world is at enmity with God’s children and as the Lord said of Satan.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” John 10:10a.
This will not stop, and the Christian must always be on their guard against being robbed, killed, or destroyed. The only way to avoid catastrophes like this is to stay close to Jesus.
Tribulation may come because of our sinful or bad choices (choices made without consulting God).
There are times when God allows tribulation to come upon us to erase some flaw in our actions or attitude. Whatever the case may be, we can know that it is to help us grow in Christ.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29.
From eternity past God knew who it was who would accept Jesus as their savior. It is because of this foreknowledge that He is able to order the lives of His children (predestined) in such a manner as to bring them to conform to the image of His Son, Christ Jesus. In other words, God wants to look into our eyes and see Jesus.
If we know these things and believe them, it is possible to have peace in Christ, by trusting Him allowing Him to run interference for us.
Ask in My Name, John 16:25-33 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 5-4-13 updated on 3-11-18.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.