John 16:23-24
In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Truth: The resurrection gave us understanding and the power of prayer
When Jesus is talking to His disciples, just prior to his death (and subsequent resurrection), He states the above truth. Because our English language is so limited, we can actually get the meaning of the text the way He more than likely meant it. In our English translation it sounds like He is talking about them "asking" Him something. He seems to state that "in that day" (He means the days after His resurrection) they will ask something and they will NOT ask something. Note that is says, "In that day you will ask nothing of me ...". Then it says, "... whatever you ask of the Father in my name, He will give it to you." Which is it? Will they "ask" or will they "ask nothing?" In the original language of the text, however, Jesus is using two different words for the word ask. In the first use of the word, He is meaning to "ask," as in seek understanding about something. In the second use of the English "ask," He is actually saying "ask" as in "a request for something." So, what the text is telling us is refreshing and enlightening to the disciples. Jesus is telling them that after the resurrection they will NO LONGER need to ask for understanding (because the Spirit is coming to give them and guide them in understanding .... something He just told them in the previous verses to the above) AND since He will now be with the Father and able to make intercession for us, they can ASK what they will and He will give it to them. Up until now they had lack understanding and they continually had to seek answers from Him. Most of the time, however, they didn't understand His answers, even after they asked. Jesus tells them that in just a short while they would have a deeper meaning of understanding and would also know the power of praying to and through a resurrected Savior. When Jesus died and rose from the dead, He made it possible for us to "know" things of deep meaning and understanding. Notice what He had just told them about the coming Spirit's work in their life:
John 16:13
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Later Paul will tell us that Jesus is the source of all wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). But, Jesus is also our intermediary. He stands at the right hand of God to be our intercessor and to plead for us. When we pray, in His will, He stands to be there to ask the Father on our behalf. After the resurrection Jesus made it possible for the disciples (and for us) to know and to ask. What a great truth!!!! Note the next few verses:
John 16:25-28
“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
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