13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
In these words our Saviour produces another argument to quiet his disciples’s hearts under their perplexity and trouble for the loss of his bodily presence; he assures them, that whatever comforts they enjoyed by his presence, they shall obtain by their prayers.
Observe here, 1. The qualification requisite in prayer: we must pray in Christ’s name, that is, for the sake of his merits and mediation, in obedience to God’s command, and with an eye to his glory, and for things agreeable to his will, and for things which his wisdom sees good for us.
To pray in Christ’s name, is more than to name Christ in prayer. It implies three things:
1. To look up unto Christ as having purchased for us this privilege that we may pray: for it is by the blood of Christ that we draw near to God, and that a throne of grace is open for us.
2. To pray in the name of Christ, is to pray in the strength of Christ, and by the assistance of the Holy Spirit of Christ.
3. To pray in the name of Christ, is to pray in the virtue of the present mediation of Christ; believing that what we ask on earth, Christ obtains in heaven.
To pray thus is no easy matter; yet unless we do pray thus, we do not pray at all.
Observe, 2. The promise made to such prayers: Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do. He saith not, That will my Father do; but that will I do, to testify his divine power and oneness with the Father. This evidently proves him to be God.
Observe, 3. The repetition of the promise for the further confirmation of it: If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. The promise is doubled for the confirmation of it, so that we might be free from all doubts and fears of being heard, when we put up our prayers to God, in the name and mediation of Jesus Christ, for things agreeable to his will.
Learn hence, That although the children of God have sometimes many jealousies and fears arising in their mind concerning the answer of their prayers, yet they are altogether groundless; for it is most certain their desires shall be granted them, so far as the wisdom of God sees fit and convenient for them; and for that reason our Saviour redoubles the promise, If ye will ask any thing in my name, I will do it.