Ask and Receive

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

ASK AND RECEIVE

John 16:16-24

16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."  17 Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" 18 They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

NIV

Jesus has to be talking about his resurrection and his continued appearance to them in his glorified state. There are the ones who had witnessed his brutal treatment by the Roman soldiers and finally his crucifixion and his death. However, they also witnessed his resurrection and at that, they were filled with joy, just as Jesus told them they would be. There was going to be a little time they could not see him as he would be in the grave, but then they would see him again. The account of his resurrection in well documented, but here Jesus is telling them it is going to happen beforehand. He did not use the term, resurrected, but that is what he means. It is interesting that John writes in this manner as he is inspired by the Spirit. When he wrote this gospel all that is said and done was in the past. John already knew Jesus had resurrected and ascended, but he writes as one who is just as unaware of what is to happen, so to take us along the journey, revealing things as they happen. Yet we do know the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say, “And now the rest of the story, Page two”. We know Jesus died, was buried and on the third day rose from the dead. Up from the grave, he arose, with a mighty triumph over his foes. We serve a risen Savior, his in the world today. He live, he lives; Christ Jesus lives today. On and on the songs portray the truth that Jesus is alive and he sits in heaven at the right hand of God. He has sent the Spirit to bear witness in our hearts of that truth. Because Jesus was resurrected, so it is that will we too will be resurrected to eternal life. His disciples did feel grief a little while, and we too can experience grief as we say goodbye to our loved ones on this earth. But only for a little while, for someday we all will be resurrected to stand before God to be judged according to what we did in our life. We believers will be judged according to our belief and will be invited into his rest. The non-believers will be judged according to their unbelief and will not be invited into his rest, but cast out into everlasting darkness. What is difficult to understand is we know and love some in this world who still do not believe, and yet on that day, they will be no weeping, no tears, for our joy will be complete. But this scene should inspire us to make sure we do not miss an opportunity to share the gospel message with those we know and those we love.  It is true, they have the freedom to accept or reject. God gave everyone that freedom in his sovereignty. But we can know for sure we will see him again and because he is with the Father we can ask the Father and he will give us what we ask for because we ask in the name of Jesus. We can ask and receive and our joy will be complete.