John 14:1-14
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, believe me because of the works themselves.
12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 Then I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
Eremos “Lonely Place,” where Jesus surely prayed, and its view of the Sea of Galilee.
"Ask in my name!"
Throughout His ministry, Jesus often dialogues with the disciples. He wants them to understand, love and practice His teachings out of personal conviction. It is a permanent way that leads to the Truth and Life that Jesus declares to be.
On their way up to Jerusalem, Jesus says to the disciples, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son" John 14:13. Jesus' way leads to the Father, and whatever we ask should glorify the Father as Jesus was doing in His earthly ministry.
Let us be inspired by the times, where and when we see Jesus pray:
- At His baptism, "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened" Luke 3:21;
- Before choosing the twelve, "...Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them" Luke 6:12-13;
- Before Peter's confession of faith, "Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, 'Who do the crowds say I am?'" Luke 9:18;
- At the transfiguration, "As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed" Luke 9:29;
- Before teaching the disciples how to pray, "One day Jesus was praying in a place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray'" Luke 11:1;
- "...Very early in the morning, while it was still dark" Mark 1:35;
- Leaving the crowd who wanted to declare him king, "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself" John 6:15;
- Before walking on the water, "After He had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray" Matthew 14:23;
- Before he called Lazarus back to earthly life, "Then Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me" John 11:41-42;
- Saying grace at the Last Supper when Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples (Exodus 13:3, "Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt") according to Biblical tradition, "He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it" Luke 22:19;
- Praying for the unity of His disciples, "I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity" John 17:23;
- At the Garden of Gethsemane, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation" Luke 22:40; and
- On the Cross forgiving those who condemned Him to Crucifixion and death, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" Luke 23:34.
These times of prayer invite us to follow Jesus as our Way. Prayers in Jesus' life are frequent acts and inspired by the Holy Spirit. They form a secure connection to God the Father. Prayers in Jesus life represent the very source of His love, His care and His redemption.
We are invited to think about our prayers--how, when, what kind?
Are they similar to Jesus' prayers?
Are they glorifying God?
Are they in Jesus' name, according to Jesus' heart?
A few moments of reflection and meditation may help us to transform our prayers and restore our connection to God in Jesus‘ name. Amen.