This is a more challenging text. Let’s look at it.
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus says
1) We will do the works that Jesus has been doing, and they will be even greater because he is going away
2) Jesus will do whatever we ask for in his name in order that the Father may be glorified
3) You may ask anything in my name and I will do it.
Let’s get honest for a moment. When we first read these, it can strike the soul. We don’t mind God not giving us the things we want in prayer such as fancy houses, cars and money. That does not bother us.
What is hard is what about the prayer for healing and the person that does not get healed? And deliverance? What about the prayer for the prodigal that does not come home? Do not such requests of God, if he were to interevene supernaturally, glorify and bring honor to God?
I am not God, and I am not here to give answers for that. Because frankly, this is a hard one.
Let’s look at the context.
First of all it says that Jesus only did and said what His Father told him to do and say. He was not acting independently. He acted and spoke in His Father’s name.
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
This is an example for us. Because in it we see that speaking and doing in someone else’s name is surrending our own wishes and desires to the one we represent. Our actions and words are to be in line with and bring honor to the one in whose name we use.
It is not our will that we represent. But it is the will and honor of the one whose name we are united with in representation.
Secondly, what we ask is something that is to bring honor to both the Son and the Father.
3 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
The Son wants to answer our prayers and act on our behalf because it brings honor to the Father. If we ask for something that does not honor the Son and the Father, it is likely we are not asking in His name.
Third, what are the greater works that we will do that God receives such honor? We first run to the thought of miracles, and that isn’t surprising because there is the mention of miracles in the text.
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
Some translation say “miracles” here.
But let’s look further on in Jesus’ teaching. In John 15:16, it says
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
It is a very similar verbiage – “whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” But what are the outward expressions here?
Fruit that lasts and loving one another.
Is it right, then, to connect the asking in his name and doing great works of love and service to others?
Very possible. We tend to think of miracles only. But perhaps it is more?
What, then, are the greater works we will do?
Is this greater in power? Greater in love?
That is hard to believe because the greatest work and the greatest power were seen in Jesus on the cross. There was no greater love than this.
And as far as power? Was there anything more powerful than the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?
Yes, the Bible records other resurrections. This includes the son of the widow of Zarephath by Elijah (1 Kings 17) and the son of the Shunammite woman by Elisha (2 Kings 4).
How, then, are we to understand “greater”? Does it mean more in quantity?
Possibly. This would make sense because Jesus in that very same breath says it is because he is going away.
The problem is that the word for “greater” used elsewhere means more significant and above. Except look at John 5 where John uses the very same thematic wording to describe the union of the Father and Son. And he uses the same word for “greater.”
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him (John 5:19-23).
This sounds like ou text all over again. And what is the greater? The greater is that the Son gives live to whom he is pleased to give it. Knowing that the life Jesus gives is eternal life, this is significant.
Could Jesus be saying that we, as little Christs (Christians), in the absence of Jesus, bring as representatives of Christ, in the union with Christ, the message of eternal life? And that this is the greater? And that we will do even greater works because we are multiplied many times over throughout the world and throughout history? And that we represent him through going out, sharing the message of life, and doing the things he did such as healing the sick and raising the dead in his name?
I think so.
But that still doesn’t answer our original question. Why do we pray and people not get healed? And yet othertimes we pray, and they do get restored.
Some say it is because we are not aligned enough with Christ. Perhaps we have sin that hinders us (Psalm 66:18; 1 Peter 3:7,12). Maybe we do not have enough faith (Mark 11:24). Then there’s the issue of we could have wrong motives (James 4:3).
When we look to Jesus, though. He came as a man. So a man perfectly aligned with God can expect to see miracles.
I don’t have all the answers. We are a work in process.
But here are the summation of my thoughts.
1) To ask in His name is to be aligned with his purposes and identity. It is a selfless act as we come as representing Jesus. To come in someone else’s name is a great honor and high representation.
2) When we ask, it should be something that brings honor to the Son and the Father.
3) When we do not receive what we ask, we must guard our hearts against anger and bitterness. God sees the bigger picture. We do not.
4) We must never give up asking for things that bring his honor and glory, even when we don’t see the answers right away.