TWO KINDS OF ASKING

There are two kinds of asking in our relationship with God. We can ask a question or we can ask for a favor. We can seek information from God or we can make a request for God to do something for us. Both kinds of asking are seen in John 16:23. "In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you."

The first asking means to ask a question. The verb is ερωτησετε. The word was used to describe conversation, and it generally meant to ask a question of someone in a dialogue between two people in close relationship with each other (NIDNTT, 2:856-857). The implication of the word was to seek information.

Jesus is not referring to prayer in this clause. He refers back to John 16:19 where the disciples were asking questions about His teaching. The "Me" (εμε) is emphatic in form and position as is the double negative (ουκ - ουδεν). The disciples would soon experience a change in their relationship with Jesus. He would no longer be present for them to ask questions.

The second asking means to make a request. This is the language of prayer. It is the new medium of communication for the disciples. The clause is introduced by "truly, truly" (αμην, αμην) which generally starts a new thought. The verb is αιτησητε which means to ask for or even demand something from someone (BAGD, p. 25). Whenever the disciples make requests to God the verb αιτεω is commonly used. Whenever Jesus asks God anything, the verb ερωταω is used. The verb αιτεω refers to a suppliant making a request of a superior while ερωταω refers to a person in a relationship of general equality (NIDNTT, 2:857). Prayer, of course, is the language of a suppliant.

A textual problem occurs with placing the phrase "in My Name" (εν τω ονοματι μου) in the sentence. Does it modify the asking or the giving? Do we ask in Jesus name or does the Father give in Jesus name? Some manuscripts place it after the giving so there are those who argue that God's answers to our prayers are in Jesus name making them more certain (Morris, John, p. 708).

The stronger manuscript evidence is for the asking to be in Jesus name. The evidence is more diversified across the geographical spectrum for this reading (Metzger, Textual Commentary, p. 248) making it the stronger reading. This reading also fits better in context because the next verse (16:24) clearly associates "in My name" with asking. We are to direct our requests to the Father in the name of Jesus. This is the normal order of prayer for us.

We have a new relationship with God on the basis of the cross. We now have direct access to the Father. The Old Testament believer did not have this experience. It is new because of the mediatorial work of Jesus. The veil between us and God has been torn down. Even for the disciples prior to the death of Christ, prayer to the Father had been hindered by the presence of the Son. Now they went directly to the Father because the Son's mission was to connect them (and us) with the Father.

Jesus has been accepted so we are accepted in Him. The intimacy of prayer characterizes our relationship with the Father through Jesus.