The Essential Jesus (Part 15): The Hard Sayings of JesusSample

Prayer Guarantee

PRAY: "Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" (Psalm 66:20).

READ: John 14:1-14

REFLECT: "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (v.14).

Over the years, I've heard two reactions to the puzzling statement Jesus made about prayer in this passage (v. 14). The first is "name it and claim it." According to this view, we should pray for very specific things, like a new car, a big house, or a fat bank account. Isn't that what Jesus said? A friend of mine once commented how odd it is that churches that preach this prosperity gospel often have the most broken-down cars in the parking lot after the service.

The second reaction is, "it ain't necessarily so." According to this view, we shouldn't pray for specific things. Often, people who feel this way claim they've tried prayer in the past, but it didn't work. But the problem with both views is they focus exclusively on earthly things, and that's a misunderstanding of what Jesus meant.

John 14:1-14 is part of Jesus' final coaching session with his disciples (John 14-16). They've been with him for three years, but now they're worried because he's talking about leaving (John 14:1-5). The disciples need some reassurance, and Jesus gives it to them in two ways. First, he says that eventually, they will be with him (v. 3). Someday, Jesus will return for all those who have put their faith in him as the way to God (v. 6). But second, Jesus says they can ask for his help while they wait for his return (vv. 12-14). That promise applies to you and me.

But the key to unlocking the mystery of Jesus' prayer guarantee lies in two phrases that are easy to overlook. The first is "in my name" (v. 4). When we pray, we should ask for things consistent with what Jesus taught and did. That narrows down my prayer list. The second is "bring glory to the Father" (v. 13). When we pray, our focus should be on things that help more people understand who God really is. Those are the kind of prayers that get results.

APPLY: What results have you seen from your prayers? How has prayer changed you?

PRAY: See if you can pray about three things that will bring glory to the Father.