Day 38 – Ask and receive

John 16:16-33

“In a little bit, you will not see me. On the other hand, in a little bit, you will see me.”

Some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘In a little bit, you will not see me. On the other hand, in a little bit, you will see me.,’ and, ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” They kept asking, “What does he mean, ‘A little bit’? We don’t know what he is saying.”

Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Are you asking about this among yourselves, that I said, ‘In a little bit, you will not see me. On the other hand, in a little bit, you will see me.?’ Truly, truly I tell you that you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief and pain will turn into joy. A woman has pain when she gives birth because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for joy that a human being is born into the world. So for you, you now have grief and pain, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

“In that day you won’t ask anything from me. Truly, truly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, and your joy may be fulfilled completely.

“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in parables and metaphors, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you that I will pray to the Father for you, for the Father himself loves you dearly, because you have loved me dearly, 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 going to the Father.”

His disciples said to him, “Look, now you are speaking plainly, and not using figures of speech. Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”

Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Look, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, each to their own personal space, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace and wholeness. In the world you have trouble; but take courage! I have overcome the world.”

For reflection

How much do you ask of God in Jesus’ name? What would you like to ask today?