John 14:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

NIV: You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

NASB: If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

CSB: If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

NLT: Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

KJV: If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

NKJV: If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

This is a concise summary of the prior verse (John 14:13). Despite being widely misinterpreted, Jesus does not give a blanket promise to do whatever we want, whenever we want it. The context is reassurance to the disciples (John 14:1–11), and encouragement to hold fast in the face of hardship. It's also tied to Christ's promise that those who follow Him have opportunity to do "greater" works (John 14:12).

A key condition here is asking "in [His] name." To act "in the name of" someone means to invoke their authority and their will, rather than your own. An ambassador who offers an agreement "in the name of the king" is enacting the decision of that king. A police officer who says, "stop, in the name of the law!" is—or should be—acting out the will of the government, not their own opinions.

To pray "in Jesus' name" is not evoking a magical spell, as if the words themselves have power. It is possible to use that phrase and not, in fact, be praying "in the name" of Christ. This is just the same as a police officer who demands a bribe can't do so "in the name of the law." Those who refuse to offer a bribe can't be legitimately arrested. Anything we ask for in prayer must be according to the character of God, and in the will of God, if it is to be granted.

This condition connects to the statement Jesus makes in the next verse: that those who claim to follow God prove it by their actions (John 14:15).

John 14:1–14 continues Jesus' discourse with the disciples at the last supper. He has recently mentioned a traitor in their midst and predicted Peter's denials. That leads Jesus to reassure these men—reminding them that He has told them the truth and has all things in hand. In this passage, Christ famously refers to Himself as ''the way, and the truth, and the life.'' That is the sixth of seven such ''I Am'' statements included in John's gospel. This section includes Jesus' words, personal experience, and evidence of His miracles as reasons to maintain trust.

Christ reassures His followers that faith in Him is faith in God. To know Christ is to know ''the way, and the truth, and the life'' (John 14:6). The words, actions, and miracles of Jesus should give Christians confidence to trust that He will make good on His promises. Among those are His guarantee that He is preparing to come for us, so we can be where He is. Jesus also predicts the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is only available to believers, and this Helper acts to guide, teach, and remind us. Both for the disciples, and for future Christians, these words are meant to be comforting during hard times. Since Christ knew, in advance, what would happen, we can be even more confident to trust Him.

After completing His public ministry in Jerusalem (John 12:36–38), Jesus has washed the feet of the disciples (John 13:3–5), predicted His betrayal (John 13:21), and foreseen Peter's denial (John 13:37–38). Chapter 14 begins a series of remarks meant to encourage the disciples, in the face of dire warnings. Among these are reminders that Jesus is planning to bring them to be where He is, assurance that He is ''the way,'' and the first explicit promises of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Chapter 15 will continue this address, beginning with Jesus' claim to be ''the true vine.''

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.