Ask Any Thing

Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 2nd March service and hymns are below.

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Our principal verses are:

Jhn 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Jhn 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jhn 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Jhn 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Jhn 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Jhn 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Jhn 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Jhn 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

 Ask Any Thing

Having introduced the subject of His Father’s house and Himself the Way to the Father, the Lord Jesus now informs His disciples more fully and particularly concerning events to happen and the changes taking place. The Saviour was going away and the disciples would obtain new and fresh supplies of grace and power from the Father and the Holy Spirit. By priming the disciples for the coming events the men would be comforted and strengthened.

Show us the Father

Philip had an idea. He believed that if the disciples could be shown the Father or given such a vision of Him as had been granted to Moses and other Old Testament prophets this would be sufficient to dispel their fears and satisfy their need. Philip felt that a glimpse of God’s glory would confirm the Lord’s statements concerning His return to heaven and validate His words about the mansions being prepared there for their possession.

Already seen

The Saviour reminds Philip of what the disciples had already seen, and heard, during the Lord’s ministry; heavenly revelations, divine doctrine, miracles and manifest power. Any who had seen the Lord Jesus by faith, the eyes of their understanding being open, would recognise how the glory of the Father is revealed in Christ. No one can know Christ without knowing the Father or know the Father without discovering Him in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing the One means knowing the Other.

Two persons, one nature

‘I am in the Father, and the Father in me’ is a clear statement of union between the Father and the Son. The Lord Jesus explains to the disciples that while the Father and Son are two distinct Persons yet they are of one undivided nature. The Father dwells in the Son and the Son dwells in the Father. The doctrines preached by the Son and the miracles performed by Him are equally the words and works of the Father. They prove the divinity of Jesus Christ, the God-Man. By this we learn that the Father and Son are of one and the same nature, co-equal, yet each is a separate Person.

‘Believe me’

The Lord calls for His disciples to exercise faith. ‘Believe me’, He says. Philip and the others must actively trust the word of Jesus with whom they have travelled these three years. They knew and believed Jesus to be the Messiah, the Son of God, even if this understanding was limited and partial. ‘If you cannot believe me for who I am’, says the Lord ‘then believe me for the works’ sake’. Christ raising the dead, healing lepers, feeding thousands and calming the wind and waves is sufficient evidence of Christ’s true identity.

Power from above

To further encourage his disciples in their imminent apostolic mission the Lord promises the twelve, or rather the eleven, Judas being gone, that they will themselves be endowed with the same Holy Spirit from heaven as He had received of His Father. The works that Christ had done they ‘shall do also; and greater works than these’. This promise had originally been given when the disciples were sent forth preaching. Here it is renewed and enlarged.

Apostolic gifts

It is best to interpret these promises of power as being personal to the apostles. Many wonderful miracles did indeed attend their ministry as we discover in Acts. For example, we read, ‘by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people’. These miracles may be considered ‘greater’ at least in number since all the apostles performed them. Signs and wonders validated their ministries, granted authority and proved their message dependable.

Ask anything

To all these the Lord adds that He will do for the apostles whatever they ask. Having returned to His Father, the Lord Jesus will bestow gifts and graces to enable the effectual preaching of the gospel and ensure the gathering in of the elect of God. Christ’s victory on the cross fulfilled His covenant obligations. The apostles will have all they require from the hand of Christ Himself. The church will be built and Christ’s Bride perfected, according to the covenant promise of God the Father. The Father’s glory guarantees it.

‘In my name’

The Saviour affirms His promise by repeating it. ‘If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.’ Anything asked in the name of Jesus Christ will be granted. Employing the name of Christ in our requests includes pleading the merits of His blood, righteousness and sacrifice. The apostles were assured that whatever was according to the will of God, contributed to His glory and secured their success would be done for them. Christ’s absence would be no hurdle to Christ’s church being built.

Amen

Our hymns are below.

Hymn 1

Gadsby selection 395

The Throne of Grace. Heb. 4. 16; John 14. 13, 14

J. Newton             S.M.

1
Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls me near;
There Jesus shows his smiling face;
And waits to answer prayer.

2
That rich atoning blood
Which, sprinkled round, I see,
Provides for those who come to God
An all-prevailing plea.

3
My soul, ask what thou wilt,
Thou canst not be too bold;
Since his own blood for thee he spilt,
What else can he withhold?

4
Beyond thy utmost wants
His love and power can bless.
To praying souls he always grants
More than they can express.

Hymn 2

Gadsby selection 692

“Ask what I shall give thee.” 1 Kings 3. 5

J. Newton   L.M.

1
If Solomon for wisdom prayed,
The Lord before had made him wise;
Else he another choice had made,
And asked for what the worldings prize.

2
Thus he invites his people still,
But first instructs them how to choose,
Then bids them ask whate’er they will,
Assured that he will not refuse.

3
And dost thou say, “Ask what thou wilt”?
Lord, I would seize the golden hour;
I pray to be released from guilt,
And freed from sin and Satan’s power.

4
More of thy presence, Lord, impart,
More of thy image let me bear;
Erect thy throne within my heart,
And reign without a rival there.

5
Give me to read my pardon sealed,
And from thy joy to draw my strength;
To have thy matchless love revealed
In all its height, and breadth, and length.

6
Grant these requests, I ask no more,
But to thy care the rest resign;
Sick or in health, or rich or poor,
All will be well if thou art mine.

The Lord Jesus Christ is encouraging His disciples prior to leaving them at the time of His death. He teaches them the beautiful doctrine of His union with His Father and how their faith is to be directed to Him as the divine person and provider of all their needs. He will accomplish all His will and purpose and provide them the tools to secure the end.