Sensational answers.

What if it IS True? Blog

Discovering, wrestling with, and trying like crazy to live Gospel virtue.

05/03/14

John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

Sounds familiar. We are not much different than the apostles who walked alongside of Jesus. There's a common theme of nonrecognition. He was either not recognized on this side of his resurrection as being God, or he was not recognized after his resurrection as being himself. It's what we deal with today. Even those of us who try to see him are often confused.

The thing I find most interesting in this passage, however, is the concept of asking in prayer, in Christ's name and getting what you want. It's the cosmic vending machine concept. If you have the right amount of currency and if you push the right button then you'll get what you want. This is popularized by a health and wealth prosperity Gospel which is unfortunately propagated among some communities. This is not what this passage refers to, but it still doesn't prevent those who mistake it from mistaking it. It's kind of like the recognition. Are we really seeing what God wants for us or are we not?

The key for me in this passage is the glorification of God. God wants to be glorified in answering our prayers. He knows, before he answers at all, what will glorify him and what won't. Some prayers may only sensationalize. Christ dealt with this to some degree in his time on earth. This was why he clearly settled the “food fight” in John chapter 6. But if our winning the lottery will only cheapen grace then we're probably not going to win the lottery with prayer. But, if in our sincerity and humility God will be glorified then rest assured that prayer will be answered. Be prepared, however. The glorification may not be the answer we wanted.

Good luck and God bless,

Leo Brown