“At that time you will ask me no questions. I most solemnly say to you, the Father will give to you, as bearers of my name, whatever you ask him for. Up to this time you have not asked for anything, as bearers of my name, but now you must keep on asking and you will receive that your cup of joy May be full to the brim.
John 16:23-24 Williams Translation
We hold this gospel message with Jesus as our sacrifice for sin and the redemption given by his cross. Jesus lived to show us our Father in heaven. He lived to display the very nature and love the Father holds for mankind. While Jesus’ earthly focus was towards a specific people, his salvation is unto all who believe in His name.
Our personal belief upon his work and name gives us entrance into the family of God. Almighty God now becomes Our Father.
Romans 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God….
Lately, I have been writing about prayer, and since all prayer is communication, I want to consider with you Jesus’ phrase, “you shall ask me nothing”. Jesus has been telling them things they do not understand and then points them to the future ~ the ‘at that time’ phase where his disciples ‘will ask him no more questions’. I find that an interesting declaration. There’s a relationship change. Almost all of their heavenly walk had been either originating from or oriented towards Jesus. This is not a subtle statement. It reveals an entirely new door required for them to enter in going forward, they will “ask him no more questions”.
‘At that time’ has become today’s reality. Jesus has made the way for us to have fellowship with our Father by the Holy Spirit just as he had. Jesus has finished his work, ascended to the right hand of the Father and established us as joint heirs with him. Now, in this time, we are directed to ‘ask the Father’.
Can you imagine how this statement would impact them. Already facing challenges in understanding everything he says, he now tells them he is leaving. He will give them the Spirit who will reveal to them all things that are his and any questions they have - ask dad. No dis-respect intended, nor implication that Jesus won’t talk to us, but rather our need to understand the greater dynamics of heavenly roles, and the place Jesus now operates from.
‘Now’ the Spirit of truth has given to teach his disciples all things. Questions, centering around the activity of Jesus as “bearers of his name”, are now directed to our Father. We are both invited into and told of a new sphere of life, just as he had, in the Father.
Fellowship has been enlarged, entrance granted to be with the Father, through Jesus Christ and by and in the Spirit. The mystery of God, the wisdom of God has been destined for our glory according to 1 Cor 2:7, receiving this wisdom by His Spirit that we may understand what God has freely given us…verse 12.
‘…God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Cor 2:10
One of the things I enjoy about the Williams translations is the attention he has given to verb sense. Did you notice in this portion of our scripture today, Jesus said to “keep on asking”. Which of course makes me think of Matthew 7:7. We are not to be those who do not know, but rather in our need or desire to know, we continue to seek and ask of the Father to fill us with all wisdom and spiritual understanding that we might do the greater works assigned.
So Jesus has left us with this great promise from John’s gospel. There is knowledge and wisdom we need and must hold for the hour we live in. Jesus wants our joy to be full and I’m mindful of how much fuller my joy is when I do ask and receive.