Living in light of eternity

Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ (Jn 13:31-33)   In the Upper Room, Jesus makes a bold statement, “God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately."  Certainly Christ is glorified in the upcoming events, but what did He mean that He would be glorified immediately? Following the Upper Room Discourse Jesus is arrested, suffers an ignominious trial, is brutally beaten, scourged, and crucified. The suffering and shame of the cross does not seem to be a very glorious event.  And yet it is.  At the cross Jesus demonstrates his absolute obedience to the will of the Father.  And He not only endures it, but with perfect...

The Upper Room Discourse, found in John chapters 13-16, includes four earth-shaking promises.  In verses John 14:13; 15:7-8; 15:16; and 16:23-24, we have the repeated phrase, "Whatever you ask in My name…":   "Whatever you ask in My name" “If you ask Me anything in My name," "Ask whatever you wish" "Whatever you ask of the Father in My name" "If you ask the Father for anything in My name" "Ask and you will receive The meaning is clear, and compelling.  It is as though He is issuing a blank check.  He is offering them a new kind of resource- prayer in the name of Jesus.  Up until this point, they had never prayed this way. “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name;  ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full."  (Jn 16:24) Now I'm sure the disciples had prayed, just as people around the world pray.  It is common human activity.  But to pray in Jesus' name seems to be something different....