March 17
JOHN 14
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. – John 14:8-14
JOHN 14 ASK WHAT GLORIFIES THE FATHER
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you pray, ask for anything that is lined up with truth
You are glorifying your Father in heaven when you do
If you ask for something that gratifies only your wants
You may not receive it for it won’t always be good for you
Your Father in heaven knows what is best for your growth
As a good father, he will not let anything hinder His love.
In this conversation between Philip and Jesus, we see how our minds can hinder our ability to see and discern. It sounds like Jesus was a little bit sad that after all those years he had been teaching them, they still do not get it. Of course, everything that happened was according to the plan of God. We will always be limited in our comprehension of the mind of God. I think Jesus wanted them to listen more with their hearts and follow and do what they heard. Doubts and unbelief can hamper our ability to act out our faith. Jesus also reassured his disciples of the generosity of his Father. He told them that if they ask anything in his name, it will be given to them by the Father. Many of us do not ask. “Asking” is the humble act of going to God for our needs. Some of us think since God knows our needs so what’s the point of asking. Some of us think he is a genie who’ll grant us our wishes and wants as we demand or command him to do so.
REFLECTION
• What does the book of James say about asking in chapter 4?
