My Favorite Verses - Vol IV (Nov 16 to Feb 17)

John 14:13-14 …To ask in His Name
(01/21/2017)
“I will do whatever you ask in my name,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If in my name you ask for anything, I will do it.”
~ Jesus (John 14:13-14)
As is so often the case when reading Scripture, there are many subtleties in
this passage worth realizing – namely the following:
First, the Truth that the deeper essence of the phrase “in my name” is critical,
as it means not “while worshiping me” (which Jesus did not want us to do – see Mark
10:18, John 5:41, John 7:61, John 8:50-54, John 12:44 et al), but rather “in a way that
harmonizes with the actual meaning of my name – which is ‘God will guide to
salvation’ (Yehoshua) and ‘God is within us’ (Emmanuel)” … Second, the Truth
that “the Father” for Jesus was an internal essence (John 14:20) composed of
perfect, unconditional Love (Matthew 5:48) -- not an external entity of wrath &/or
judgment … Third, the Truth that this explains why the Father is glorified “in the
Son” and not by the Son … Fourth, the Truth that the only thing that can be
properly asked for “in [his] name” is the opportunity to be of service to others --
an opportunity that is truly omnipresent in all our lives, which explains why it was
so easy for Jesus to make this guarantee -- for making such a request does not
require that anything be manifested that isn’t already (and indeed always) there.
Amen ... Let us all realize it is indeed so.
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