Dear Friend,

Jesus knows you have troubles today, and Jesus wants to come to you in your troubles in order to share with you his glory. So he asks you to trust him, and he teaches you to pray for glory.

In Willowdale’s passage for Sunday, John 14:1-14, Jesus makes one of his extravagant promises regarding prayer. Our Lord says, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:14) Jesus expects us to receive such a promise with biblical knowledge. Jesus asks us to respond to such a promise in the light of the entire passage and the entire Scriptures.

In the preceding verse, Jesus says, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13) So as we ask for anything, we ask in Jesus’ name, which means we ask in keeping with his character. As we ask for anything, we ask also in keeping with Jesus’ purpose of glorifying the Father, which means we ask for the suffering love that reveals God’s glory.

In Jesus’ own “high priestly” prayer, our Lord prays, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you.” (John 17:1) Jesus’ hour is the hour in which he is lifted up on the cross, so that he can draw all people to himself. (John 12:32) Jesus’ hour is the hour in which he is lifted up from the grave, so he can begin a new creation. (John 20:15) Jesus’ hour is the hour in which he is lifted up to our Father in heaven, so he can share God’s life with us. (John 20:17) In his hour of being lifted up on the cross, from the tomb, and to the Father’s right hand, Jesus reveals God’s glory as a suffering love that lifts us into the light, life, and love of the Triune God. (John 17:22) So when we pray in Jesus’ name for glory, we pray for such suffering and life-giving love. That’s the message of the entire Scriptures. (Luke 24:25-27)

What does it look like for Jesus to come to you in your troubles in order to transform you into an embodiment of his glory? Jesus says, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:14) Seek what that means for you.

Love,
Joel