John 16:26-27 At that day you shall ask in my name: and I say not to you, that I will pray the Father for you:… Our Lord would teach that the Father is ready to receive our petitions directly, because He loveth us. We have here — I. A NEW CONCEPTION OF GOD. 1. New to the Jew with his elaborate sacrificial and mediatorial scheme. 2. New to us who, conscious of sin and of God's anger against it, could never have hoped that He would view us in any other light but that of aliens. II. THE ANXIETY OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN CLOSE RELATIONS WITH HIS CHILDREN. The mediation of Christ is a means to the end of bringing us to God (1 Peter 3:18). III. THE ERROR OF MULTIPLYING THE MEDIATIONS BETWEEN THE SOUL AND GOD. Remove God afar off, confine Him to the heavens, then priests mediating for men, and saints mediating for priests, is rational; but how does it comport with this saying and the whole teaching of Scripture, which reveals a God dwelling in the heart, and jealous of everything that comes between Him and the soul He has redeemed. IV. THE COMFORTABLE BELIEF THAT CHRIST MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US. Christ does not decline to pray for us. He only makes known God's willingness to hear us directly. But all the while we know He ever liveth to make intercession for US. (H. M. Jackson.) Parallel Verses KJV: At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:WEB: In that day you will ask in my name; and I don't say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you, |
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