“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
John 14:1
What enables you to trust someone?
Knowing them. Living with them and seeing what they say and what they do. Over time, a person proves themselves either trustworthy or untrustworthy (or, truthfully, somewhere in the middle).
God has constantly proven Himself trustworthy. This is why we read the whole Bible — to be continually reminded of the goodness and faithfulness of God; to stoke the fires of our faith.
On the eve of his suffering, Jesus begins his longest recorded sermon, just for the disciples (John 14-17). His goal is to encourage them to keep trusting, even when he is killed, they all scatter and abandon him, and they don’t have any idea what to do next.
“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.”
John 16:1-4
From now until Thanksgiving we will walk slowly through this rich, wonderful passage, inviting the Lord to build up our faith and teach us to abide in Him. Just look at one theme in these four chapters as we begin: the theme of prayer. I’ll place five verses side by side for the sake of emphasis.
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:13-14
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 15:7
“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:23-24
Notice the symmetry of these teachings. A double promise in chapter fourteen balanced by a double promise in chapter sixteen, focusing our attention on what lies between them in the singular promise of chapter fifteen. It’s like two half pound patties holding a slab of bacon and cheese in the middle.
Now, you can’t read any of these verses and come away with a “name it and claim it” magical form of self-indulgence. We pray in the name of Jesus, on His behalf, for His glory, pursuing His kingdom, while abiding in Him. Self-indulgence is, by the definition of true prayer, ruled out. We aren’t asking Him for things for our own pleasures but for His purposes in this world.
Yet as we pray this way, our joy overflows.
Two months away from usual responsibilities gives you some time and space to reflect. John 14-17 was my area of focus and meditation. These chapters are filled with gold and jewels for the student who will dig for them. So come study with us. Learn with us. Pray with us. Build up the muscles of your faith in Jesus as you get to know Him.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Let’s learn to Abide.