Jesus tells His disciples, 'Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do.' He repeats the promise in the following verse: 'If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.' Between these statements Jesus gives the purpose of the promise: 'that the Father may be glorified in the Son.'
Jesus in Context
Whatever You Ask in My Name
Jesus promises to act in response to prayer offered in His name so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Introduction
Historical and Cultural Context
To ask in someone's name involves more than simply adding a verbal formula to a request. Within the setting of the Farewell Discourse, Jesus is preparing His disciples to continue their mission after His departure.
A striking feature of the passage is Jesus' statement that He Himself will act in response to what is asked in His name. The stated purpose is not merely the satisfaction of the disciples' desires but the glorification of the Father in the Son.
Why It Matters
The passage connects prayer, the continuing mission of Jesus' followers, and the relationship between the Father and the Son. Asking in Jesus' name is presented within the larger purpose that the Father be glorified through the Son.