Truly, Truly, I say to You

Article for May 25, 2025

John 16:23–24 23[Jesus said:] “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. 24Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

That day has come, that day is now; we now can ask anything of the Father in the name of Jesus.  Again, I tell you asking in Jesus’ name is asking whatever you ask in the will of God.  God cannot go against His own will, so we need to be mindful as to what we ask God.

If what we asked the Father is in the will of God, then the answer will be yes!  If what we asked the Father is not in the will of God, then the answer will be no!  And if it is the will of God that what we ask is not the right time for it, then His answer to us will be not yet!

Jesus is not saying that what ever you ask for and say that you ask in Jesus’ name you will receive.  If you ask for something outside of God’s will and say you ask it in His name; you just used the Lord’s name in vain.  Asking in this way you can be sure the answer is no!

We always need to be mindful of God’s will.  That may sound hard to some, but the truth is God’s will is printed out for us in a book of 783,137 words within 66 inner books within, in two testaments.  Yes, for one to know the will of God is to read, study and listen to God’s will.  In fact, it is God’s will that you read, study, and listen to, we know it as His Holy Bible.

John 16:25 25“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.

I wish I was there when Jesus was talking to His Apostles and disciples.  I’m sure there had to be more said then what John is telling us.  Or is it really hard to understand that Jesus and the Father are one?  Jesus is recorded saying He and the Father are one a few times through the New Testament.  Yet John says at the end of the last to chapters of His book that Jesus said and did many more things to numerable to write down.

The figure of speech is the parables like the lost son, and ten virgins that gives a glimpse of God’s means and ways.  In the lost son, (Luke 15:11-32) we see God opening His arms and heart to the one who was lost and is found and letting those who follow Him know they receive an abundance of His love every day. 

In the ten virgins, (Matthew 25:1-13) we see those who are lazy in their preparation for heaven.  God sees our heart and knows that some only pay attention to God when they feel threatened or think they might prosper from it.  God turns them away because these people are the seekers of popularity instead of sincerity.

We see the story of the many laborers in the vineyard, (Matthew 20:1-16).  God treats us all the same whether we came early or late.  We must realize we already belong to God whether we believe while we are young or believe when we get old.  We must realize that all who are to be saved are equal here on earth and there in heaven.

John 16:26–28 26In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.  28I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

Jesus came from the Father and Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30; 17:21), so it stands to reason that the will of Jesus is the will of the Father.  Jesus loves us and in fact died for our sins to assure our salvation through the Father’s grace and mercy.  This was the Holy Father’s plan from the start.

As Jesus loves us and Jesus and the Father are one, we know that the Father loves us.  We, as directed by Jesus pray to the Father for all our needs and supplications.  The Holy Spirit hears our prayers and knows our hearts and intercedes for us to the Father who listens with a Father’s heart.

John 16:29–30 29His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”

I don’t know, the Apostles seem to get what Jesus is referring to, but I’m not quite seeing the clarity.  Jesus seems to always speak in a figurative way.  How is it that now they understand what appears to be an unfinished thought. 

Maybe John did not record the whole conversation Jesus is having with His Apostles and disciples.  This is something of the mysteries of our God.  God leaves us not hanging nor interpreting on our own but shows us that in order to understand you must know the whole of His word.

John 16:31–32 31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

As the argument continues, it’s almost like Jesus is mocking the Apostles and the disciples around Him.  Jesus did not speak of anything in clarity for them to understand yet, yet they say they now know He is from God and is speaking plainly for them to understand. 

Then Jesus actually speaks plainly lets the Apostles and disciples know they will be scattered and will leave Him alone.  Of coarse Jesus is speaking to them about His crucifixion.  “Yet I am not alone,” Although Jesus will hang on the cross alone while everyone flees out of fear, Jesus knows that the Father will be with Him.   

This is good news to us because even if we die alone our Father in heaven will be with us.  Our Father in heaven will not just be with us in the end of this life but will be waiting with open arms to accept us into our new beginning, our eternal life.

John 16:33 33I 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.”

      Jesus lets us know, though our lives will be met with trials and tribulations especially in this fallen world we live in now.  But remember, Jesus has overcome this world as He assures us our deliverance out of this world and into the new World.  Amen.

      Written by Pastor Curtis A. May