In class I referred to the numerous times Jesus mentions prayer in this long Sermon. More specifically …
In the “Father” chapter, John 14 …
John 14:13 … “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
John 14:14 … “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
In the “Son” chapter, John 15 …
John 15:7 … “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
John 15:16 … “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
In the “Holy Spirit” chapter, John 16 …
John 16:23 … “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”
John 16:24 … “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
Notice … in John 14 it is the Son Who answers prayer. By John 16 it is the Father Who does so! (Preparation for Jesus’ Absence involves prayer, much prayer in fact!)
Praying for “whatsoever” … such a vast invitation …
Like Psalm 81:10 commands … “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
Or Jeremiah 33:3 … “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Luke 6:25 should have been added to the lesson. Wicked world, take note … “Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.”(In light of verse 20!)
This too … In 1 Thessalonians 5:17-17 Paul commands … “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.” Herein is a Principle of God’s Ways … NO PRAYER, NO JOY! (The second act is the means of procuring the first act! Prayer provides joy!)
The disciples speaking here in John 16:17 interrupt a long section of the Sermon, a large Span with Jesus only teaching, preaching! The disciples have not voiced anything since John 14:22!
There is a spiritual dimension to Jesus’ “woman in travail” illustration in verse 21. Paul uses such a metaphor in Galatians 4:19. “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
The Cross of Calvary might be an example of such “labor, travail” as well. There Jesus, in agony, produces “children!” The Sinless Blood shed there at Golgotha “births” many into the kingdom of God! That’s why Isaiah 53:10 can say … “God, thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, HE SHALL SEE HIS SEED, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”Meaning “seed” as children, converts!
The disciples well may have so negatively reacted to Jesus “going away” … because they still had visions of His immediately setting up His Kingdom and ruling over all the earth! With them enjoying the windfall ($$$) of course! Probably selfish motives, looks like!
A full lesson this time. Watch it if you can …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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