Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
In chapters 15, 16 and 17 Jesus knows His time in human flesh is coming to an end. It will be brutal and incredibly frightening to His followers. He uses these final moments to prepare His friends with courage and peace. His words include instruction to love one another, keep Christ’s commandments, abide in Him always, produce the fruit of His Spirit and expect some pruning and persecution.
Up until this time the disciples have not seen Jesus through the lens of Heaven’s mediator. There has been little reason to ask Jesus for anything. He has seen their need and provided, but His presence is going to change forms and He wants them, and us, to understand it is a greater gift, not a lesser one.
Jesus was going into the depths of man’s greatest sorrow knowing a present grief and fear would soon turn to joy. The joy of the resurrection would conquer the grief of the crucifixion. However, spiritual survival would have great challenges. Jesus has fulfilled many Jewish traditions that will no longer be relevant, i.e. animal sacrifice and ceremonial washing. The saved have direct access to God’s Holiness, Goodness and Grace. Coming directly to Him daily with nothing by praise and petition will be new and confusing, but it is God’s plan, it’s how He wants us to communicate and be communicated with. This is the way of a living, working, loving, saving God.
Come Boldly to the Throne!
Gretchen