FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
OUR THEME FOR 2020
(Part 51)
IN JESUS’ NAME WE PRAY
May 13, 2020
Today’s gospel: John 15:1-8
We are to build our house on the Rock that is Christ. We do so by listening to Jesus’ words and acting on them.1 We listen to Jesus’ words and let his words sink in; thus his words remain in us. We also act on Jesus’ words, living out his teachings in our day-to-day lives; thus we remain in him. Now if we do these, Jesus makes a remarkable promise. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.” (v.15:7).
We are servants of Jesus, but he has made himself a servant to us. He manifested this when he washed the feet of his disciples, a task given to the lowest slave in the household. Now Jesus tells us that if we remain as his servants (listening and acting on his words), then he will serve us by doing for us whatever we want and ask for.
Earlier in his last supper discourse, Jesus had told his disciples, “If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” (v.14:14). This has given rise to Christians often closing their prayers of intercession with the words, “in Jesus’ name we pray.” Unfortunately, this has become rote and automatic, becoming meaningless. In fact, we see that many of the things we ask for are not granted to us.2
But Jesus’ words are true. If we ask for anything in his name, he will do it for us. The key is in asking “in his name.” What does this mean?
First, what we ask for must be in accordance with God’s will. Now if we truly remain in Jesus, that is, are authentic disciples, and his words remain in us, that is, are well-instructed and obedient servants, then what we ask for should be in accordance with God’s will and ways, and thus will be granted by God to us. We do not just ask for anything that seems good to us. It must be what God wants for our lives.
Second, what we ask for must be for the furtherance of Jesus’ mission. Jesus came for the sole purpose of winning for us our salvation. Jesus gathered his disciples so that they would be instructed and then serve him and carry on his work. They were to go and bear lasting fruit.3 Now Jesus says, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” (v.15:16). In going and bearing fruit, God provides for all we need to accomplish His work. We ask and we are given.
Third, what we ask for must glorify God. “And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (v.14:13). We exist for the glory of God. All we do is for the glory of God. This is why we are 24/7 for Jesus. Our lives belong to God, and our works are to manifest His glory to the world. So when we pray and ask for something in Jesus’ name, we must ask not just for good things for ourselves or for others, but always look to what will glorify God by accomplishing His purposes in the world.
So if we remain in Jesus as his disciples, and we bear fruit as we serve him, then God is glorified. “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (v.15:8). Then we can rightly say, “In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
1 Matthew 7:24.
2 What we want for ourselves and what God wants for us would be very different. And of course, the Father knows best.
3 Which ultimately means salvation, resulting in the fruit of eternal life in heaven.
