John Chapter 16, Verse 24
From BibleWiki
24: εως αρτι ουκ ητησατε ουδεν εν τω ονοματι μου αιτειτε και ληψεσθε ινα η χαρα υμων η πεπληρωμενη
24: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall
receive, that your joy may be full.
24: Hitherto, you have not asked any thing in my name. Ask, and you
shall receive; that your joy may be full.
Hitherto. During his ministry, and while he was with them.
Have ye asked, &c. From the evangelists, as well as from this declaration, it seems that they had presented their requests for instruction and aid to Jesus himself. If they had prayed to God, it is probable that they had not done it in his name. This great truth -- that we must approach God in the name of the Mediator -- was reserved for the last that Jesus was to communicate to them. It was to be presented at the close of his ministry. Then they were prepared in some degree to understand it; and then, amid trials, and wants, and a sense of their weakness and unworthiness, they would see its preciousness, and rejoice in the privilege of being thus permitted to draw near to God. Though he would be bodily absent, yet their blessings would still be given through the same unchanging Friend.
Ask, &c. Now they had the assurance that they might approach God in his name; and, amid all their trials, they, as well as all Christians since, might draw near to God, knowing that he would hear and answer their prayers.
