Thoughts for the Day

* Cover page of Anne of Brittany's 'Book of Hours', showing the Trinity.

Jesus said, 'Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. 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; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.’

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today we often call Jesus by the name of Jesus Christ, as though the word Christ was His surname, but of course this is not so. It comes from the the Jewish word for Messiah which meant the Anointed One. The Hebrew scriptures use this word for those anointed to high office, men like Saul and David, but it was also hoped that this person would be one who would save Israel from her enemies. However, its also the Greek word Christus and is used as a title for God. So when we say Jesus Christ we are giving a name and a title and we mean that he is the anointed Son of God, one of the three persons of the Trinity and fully God. When Lazarus is raised from the dead Martha says to Jesus "I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world" (John 11.27)

The passage today from John 16 can be confusing. Why is Jesus telling the disciples to ask the Father in his name, but then adding he may not ask the Father? It doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, does it, but lets break it up. When we turn to God the Father we are showing we know we have a spiritual need and want His blessing. But when we ask in Christ's name we indicate we're unworthy to receive a favour from God the Father. Jesus then says that his intercession may not be needed, as the Father know how much we love His Son and because of this He loves us.We should remember that God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one God!

Jesus Christ,
Son of God,
Second Person of the Trinity,
accept our unworthiness
when we turn to You.
Forgive our sin,
and in Your goodness hear us
and answer our prayer.
Amen.