John 16:23-27 And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name… I. COMPLETE REVELATION 1. The subject: the Father; His nature: God; His character: love; His purpose: salvation. 2. The medium: Christ; the Father's Son, Ambassador, Revealer. II. ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. 1. Clear. No longer in proverbs, parables, or veiled forms is the truth presented by the Spirit, but in plain and easy-to-be-understood propositions (ver. 25). 2. Sufficient. Enjoying the Spirit's teaching, the Christian needs not to ask of any external authority (ver. 23; cf. Hebrews 8:11). III. PERFECT CONCLUSION. 1. On the part of the Christian. (1) Liberty in prayer. He may ask of the Father anything (vers. 23-26). (2) Success in prayer — guaranteed by the Christian's plea, Christ's name (vers. 24, 26); the Saviour's intercession (ver. 26); the Father's love (ver. 27). 2. On the part of the Father. (1) Loving Christ's people (ver. 27). (2) Granting their requests (ver. 23). IV. AUGMENTING EXULTATION. 1. The nature of it. The joy of the Christian is always — (1) Inward. (2) Spiritual. (3) Progressive. (4) Permanent. 2. The cause of it. (1) The Spirit's indwelling. (2) The soul's beholding of Christ (ver. 22). (3) The Father's giving (ver. 23).Lessons: 1. The superiority of the Christian age to all that have preceded. 2. The increased responsibility of all who live in it. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. |
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