May 30, 2025 • 18 mins
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John 16: 23b-28 - ''The Father loves you for loving me and believing that I came from God.'
Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:
- 2615 (in 'Jesus teaches us how to pray') - Even more, what the Father gives us when our prayer is united with that of Jesus is "another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth." This new dimension of prayer and of its circumstances is displayed throughout the farewell discourse. In the Holy Spirit, Christian prayer is a communion of love with the Father, not only through Christ but also in him: "Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
- 2815 (in 'Hallowed be thy name') - This petition embodies all the others. Like the six petitions that follow, it is fulfilled by the prayer of Christ. Prayer to our Father is our prayer, if it is prayed in the name of Jesus (abbreviated).
- 661 (in 'He Ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father') - This final stage stays closely linked to the first, that is, to his descent from heaven in the Incarnation. Only the one who "came from the Father" can return to the Father: Christ Jesus. "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man (abbreviated).
- 2795 (in 'Who Art in Heaven') - Jn Christ, then, heaven and earth are reconciled, for the Son alone "descended from heaven" and causes us to ascend there with him, by his Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension (abbreviated).
Got a Bible question? Send an email to logicalbiblestudy@gmail.com, and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:11):
Hi everyone. Welcome back to logical Bible
study in this daily gospel exegesis podcast.
We really dig into the text of the gospels to help you
understand what the author was trying to get across to his
original audience. And that's always where we want
to start. We want to start with that
literal sense of the text. So let's get into the text for
(00:33):
today, we're looking at John chapter 16 verses 23b to 28.
Jesus said to his disciples. I tell you most, solemnly,
anything you ask for, from the father, he will grant in my
name. Until now, you have not asked
for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive.
(00:56):
And so, your joy will be complete.
I have been telling you all thisin metaphors, the hour is coming
when I shall no longer speak to you in metaphors, but tell you
about the father, in plain words, when that day comes, you
will ask in my name. And I do not say that, I shall
pray to the father for you because the father himself loves
(01:21):
you for loving me. And believing that I came from
God. I came from the father and have
come into the world, and now I leave the world to go to the
father. So, an interesting passage, as
always, we want to start by asking, what's the context,
when, and where is this happening?
We're in the midst of the farewell discourse, which goes
(01:43):
over, quite a few chapters starts of the Last Supper,
although they're probably on their way to the Garden of
Gethsemane now. So they're on the road, walking
the last thing. Jesus said to them, to the
apostles was, you are sad now. Now, but when I return, you will
be filled with joy. Today we're starting at verse
23, be and whenever you see thatA or B, it's pretty rare,
(02:06):
although it does show up sometimes in the lectionary
readings, it basically means thelectionary has split a
particular verse into two parts.So 23 B is the second half or
the second sentence rather in verse 23 and that's where our
reading starts today. Jesus said to his disciples.
So let's keep in mind that audience.
(02:29):
I tell you most solemnly now whenever you hear that phrase as
you probably know by. Now, if you've been listening
for a while that phrase indicates that Jesus wants his
audience to pay attention, he's about to say, something really
important to them. Anything you ask for, from the
father, So any request that the apostles asked from the father,
(02:49):
keep in mind, the audience here,the apostles, he will grant in
my name. So, we need to talk a bit about
this phrase in my name. What the basic idea of?
What, what Jesus is saying here is something like this.
Anything you ask for, in my namewill be granted, I think we
could rearrange the words and that's the basic meaning.
(03:12):
So, what does it mean to ask forsomething in Jesus name?
And this is something that Jesushas already covered.
Actually in the farewell discourse, 14:13, and then 15:16
both talked about this idea of the father, Grant Eating any
request, the apostles asked in his name.
So for the apostles to ask something, in Jesus name, it
(03:33):
basically means to ask for something that is in accordance
with his will and his identity. So, any request that is on that
same wavelength and if they're asking for something, which is
in accordance with Jesus will because Jesus and the father are
so closely United. Then by definition, the request
is also in line with the father's will and therefore, the
(03:54):
father will grant the request. That he's will as well to see
how that works. Anything.
Which is in Jesus name, means it's in Jews as will, which
means it's in the father's will.Which means Jesus is, which
means the father is going to Grant it for the purposes of
building his kingdom. Remember who the audience is?
This Promise is to the apostles.It does not necessarily extend
(04:16):
to us Christians in the same waytoday.
So we can't take this verse out of context and necessarily all
the time I play, apply This Promise of the father granting,
any of our requests to the same extent.
It may not apply in that way, verse 24.
Until now you have not asked foranything in my name.
(04:38):
So up until now through Jesus ministry when the Has prayed.
There might have asked for things in the name of the
father, but the concept of asking for something.
In Jesus name was knew they had not heard this idea before.
Why does Jesus bring it up now while it's because he's about to
die and be resurrected. And the idea is, as we saw in
the last couple of sections on this podcast through Jesus
(05:02):
resurrection, he's going to gainabsolute Authority through his
resurrection. So that means after his
resurrection, any prayers, whichMade in Jesus name from that
point on will be in accordance with Jesus Authority.
And by then Jesus Authority willbe absolute.
And therefore to ask for those prayers in line with Jesus.
(05:24):
Absolute Authority means that they're going to be granted so
it's a bit convoluted but hopefully you can see how that
works. If you're interested in looking
at what Jesus says about having absolute Authority, then go back
and have a look through the podcasts in the last couple of
days where early in John chapter16 Jesus.
Jesus discusses his authority that he's going to receive after
his resurrection verse 24, Jesusgoes on ask and you will
(05:49):
receive. That's a rephrasing of the same
idea about asking in the name ofJesus, it's the same basic
teaching and so your joy will becomplete.
So that's the purpose of the Apostles asking for things in
Jesus name, it's to bring about complete joy for the apostles.
The idea here is when the apostles pray for something in
(06:10):
Jesus name and they see those prayers, being answered by the
Father, the apostles Will Rejoice, because they get to be
part of this deep Divine communion with the father and
the son, it's a source of great joy for them.
And you sort of see that in the book of Acts, when the father
grants these, incredible things through them verse 25 I have
(06:30):
been telling you all this in metaphors.
Other translations have that word is figures.
This is interesting, isn't it? Jesus.
He reveals that most of the farewell discourse has been
veiled, speech, some sort of partially obscure speech that
he's been giving Jesus here, admits that he's not been
speaking as plain as he could be, and particularly this would
(06:54):
apply to the metaphor of the True Vine earlier, in John
chapter 15, in the farewell discourse Jesus did the parable
of the True Vine. And that was clearly a metaphor.
But Jesus seems to imply here that a lot of what he's been
saying. In the farewell discourse is a
metaphor or a figure and that would explain why the repulse
the apostles repeatedly, do not understand what he's saying, in
(07:17):
the farewell discourse and they often ask for clarification.
They don't understand so Jesus, he admits that he's using veiled
speech. Why would he do that?
Why not just speak plainly all the time, particularly to his
Apostles. It's probably because the
teachings that Jesus has in mindhear the teachings about the
father. And his identity and his
(07:39):
relationship with the father. It's probably means that these
teachings are so complex and theapostles.
At this point are not yet in a spiritual state, where they can
handle these plane teachings about the father because they're
too complex if Jesus tried to reveal the complexities of the
Trinity of this point in the apostles Ministry.
They would not understand. And that's because they don't
(08:01):
yet, have the help of the Holy Spirit, they need to wait for
the Holy Spirit to come before Jesus can give Um, these deeper
insights. So in the meantime, he has to
juice use metaphors. This is important.
And there's a question here, about the extent to which Jesus
is applying this? Does he mean to say that
(08:21):
everything has been saying in his ministry, up until this
point, has been in metaphors? It could be an, if it if that is
what Jesus means. That's very significant because
that would mean that a lot of what Jesus says about the father
in particular during his ministries.
Sure we shouldn't press that too.
Literally he's been using metaphors all the way through so
(08:43):
it depends. Whether we take Jesus to mean,
he's reflecting on the entire Ministry or he's reflecting just
on the speech in the farewell discourse.
So there's some interesting implications though, Jesus
admits that he uses metaphors, rather than speaking plainly and
that's why doing exegesis is so important.
Particularly of Parables, parables are not supposed to be
(09:03):
pressed too much. There's certain elements Jesus
wants us to see about God, but we shouldn't over read them.
And that's why we're giving you Tools in this podcast to help
you do exegesis which tries our best to get it.
What? Jesus was intending, he goes on
the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in
(09:24):
metaphors, but tell you about the father in plain words, when
does that happen? When does that our arrive
probably during the apostolic age after Jesus Ascension?
Jesus, at that point starts to speak to them through the Holy
Spirit. And through the Holy Spirit,
Jesus reveals deeper and planar truths about the father.
(09:46):
And that makes sense because we believe that in the apostolic
age all that the father, willed to be part of the deposit of
Faith, divine revelation, At least the initial divine
revelation that was given to theapostles in those early years by
the holy spirit. So the apostles declared it in
their speech and they also put it down in writing which made it
(10:07):
into the New Testament. That is certainly in line with
what Jesus said earlier in chapter 16 verse 13, the holy
spirit will speak to you what hehears.
So Jesus here is prophesying that a time is coming very
shortly when the apostles will understand deeper things about
God and about the trinity. Through the help of the holy
spirit in the apostolic age. Verse 26, when that day comes,
(10:31):
you will ask in my name. So, that's when this kind of
prayer that he was talking aboutstarts to become quite dominant.
When they have the help of the holy spirit in the apostolic
age, then Jesus adds this interesting comment, and I do
not say that, I shall pray to the father for you.
Now, this might strike us as a bit strange because we believe
(10:52):
that Jesus is our intercessor for the father, and that he can
pass on prayers to the father. So the meaning here, he must be
that when the apostles in particular asked for something
in Jesus name, It's not like Jesus will hear the request and
bring it to the father, rather for the apostles, the father
himself will hear their prayers and then grant their request.
(11:15):
So Jesus he wants the apostles to understand that he and the
father are so United. The prayer in Jesus name is
prayer. That goes directly to the
father, at least for the apostles.
That is and Jesus. Now explains why it is that the
apostles prayers are going to godirectly to the father, it's
worth stopping at this point. I'm thinking about, you know,
(11:36):
what this means about the apostles, we sometimes don't
realize the significant privileges that the apostles had
access to those early years, in the book of Acts and afterwards,
God was doing new things, incredible things through the
apostles, and they have access to spiritual gifts, and prayers,
and benefits that we after the apostolic age, don't necessarily
(11:58):
have access to. He poured out special gifts in
those early years of expanding the kingdom.
And we call that time period, the apostolic age.
Verse 27 because the father himself loves you for loving me
and believing that I came from God.
So Jesus here teaches that the father has a special love for
(12:18):
the apostles because of their belief in Jesus and their
Devotion, to following him. This idea of a special love of
the father has come up a few times in the discourse.
And remember, we've been saying in the podcast that God does
have a special kind of love for Jesus followers.
Particularly the apostles but that doesn't count against his
(12:39):
General love that he has for theworld in general.
They're two different things. So the implication here is that
the father will not hear. Jesus doesn't say this but I
think it's contained at least implied.
The father will not directly hear everyone's prayers in this
way. Instead Jesus will have to be an
intercessor for some people's prayers at least but at, but if
(13:03):
that's the correct interpretation, what he's saying
is that the apostles in particular, in virtue of their
Divine Mission and their closeness to Jesus, they will
have their prayers heard by the father directly but not
necessarily all Christians. Hopefully, that makes sense
verse 28. I came from the father and have
come into the world so that his Incarnation, the father sent the
(13:26):
son to take. Human flesh.
And now I leave to the world to go to the father and that's a
prophecy about his coming Ascension into heaven.
Scholars, often talk about Jesusministry as one, great Parabola,
like a great valley where he starts in heaven.
He descends to earth once his ministry on Earth is finished,
he returns to heaven. So it's a great you shape.
(13:49):
Although there's something that we often forget, which is part
of Christian teaching and it hasprofound implications often we
consider it, It to be something like this.
The second person of the Trinitycame down to earth and in the
person of Jesus did his thing and then he returned back to
heaven. And everything was basically the
way it was before the second person of the Trinity was the
(14:10):
same had the same appearance in the same everything as before it
was just sort of a short-term mission on Earth, actually the
Christian teaching and this is pretty clear in the Bible is
that when Jesus goes back to heaven and his Ascension, he has
something that he didn't didn't have before.
He has a physical body and Jesuskeeps that physical body in
heaven, with the father. Before the second person of the
(14:32):
Trinity was sent to Earth. He was just a spirit, but after
Jesus ministry, he retains Jesus, physical body, forever
for eternity. And it's that special thing that
the second person of the Trinitydid taking on human flesh and
then ascending in that human flesh that allows us as humans
to keep our bodies on the last day in the final Resurrection as
(14:55):
well. So it's pretty incredible.
Edible, when you think of it, ittruly was a sacrifice that the
second person of the Trinity made.
He took on human flesh forever for eternity.
Now, interestingly, this is justa side comment but a lot of
theologians point out the because of that fact, because
Jesus Took on human flesh and then returned to heaven for all
(15:16):
eternity to have human flesh that probably counts against
this idea of there being intelligent life on other
planets. Because if there is intelligent
life on other planets then presumably they might Fallen as
well. They're affected by the curse.
But Jesus has only taken on human flesh and he's got human
flesh for all eternity. So he wouldn't be able to redeem
(15:36):
these other non-human creatures.So that's kind of convoluted
isn't it? But a lot of Scholars have
pointed out that we need to takeJesus bodily nature in heaven,
quite seriously in terms of Galactic implications.
So that is the end of the passage for today and that
farewell discourse is going to continue In you, in the coming
(15:57):
days, will continue to continue to look at chapter 16, right?
Into verse 7 of chapter 17, as well.
Let's just look at a few short. Catechism, paragraphs, paragraph
2615. This is about Jesus model of
prayer, even more what the father gives us when our prayer
is united with, that of Jesus isanother counselor to be with you
(16:21):
forever. Even the spirit, of Truth, this
new dimension of prayer and of at Stances is displayed
throughout the farewell discourse in the Holy Spirit.
Christian prayer is a communion of love with the father.
Not only through Christ but alsoin him.
Here, the two you've you have asked for nothing in my name,
(16:42):
ask and you will receive that your joy may be full.
See here that quote there at theend is directly from John 16.
Paragraph. 2815, this is a commentary on the line of the,
Our Father, Hallowed be thy name.
It says this petition, embodies all the others, like the six
petitions that follow it. It is fulfilled by the prayer of
(17:05):
Christ's prayer to our father isour prayer.
If it is prayed in the name of Jesus, Paragraph 661 this is
about the Ascension. The final stage stays closely
linked to the first that is to his descent from heaven.
In the Incarnation. Only, the one who came from the
father can return to the father Christ.
(17:27):
Jesus, no one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended
from Heaven, the son of man, Lastly paragraph, 2795 again.
This is from the Our father but we're looking at the line Who
Art in Heaven. It says in Christ, then Heaven
and Earth are reconciled for thesun alone.
Descended from heaven and causesus to ascend there with him by
(17:51):
his cross resurrection and Ascension.
So here, as in most of the farewell discourse, it's rich in
theological, meaning there's a whole lot.
We can glean about the Trinity about our relationship to the
father about the gifts. He gives the church so much
richness in here, and hopefully,you're enjoying learning the
(18:13):
literal sense of the text of thefarewell discourse because
there's a lot we can take from it.
If you have learned something new today, please share this
with other people so that we canget the word out there and set
more Catholics on fire. For their faith.
Thank you so much for listening.Please tune in again tomorrow.
Thank you so much for listening.Please tune in again tomorrow.
Hi everyone. Welcome back to logical Bible
study in this daily gospel exegesis podcast.
We really dig into the text of the gospels to help you
understand what the author was trying to get across to his
original audience. And that's always where we want
to start. We want to start with that
literal sense of the text. So let's get into the text for
(00:33):
today, we're looking at John chapter 16 verses 23b to 28.
Jesus said to his disciples. I tell you most, solemnly,
anything you ask for, from the father, he will grant in my
name. Until now, you have not asked
for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive.
(00:56):
And so, your joy will be complete.
I have been telling you all thisin metaphors, the hour is coming
when I shall no longer speak to you in metaphors, but tell you
about the father, in plain words, when that day comes, you
will ask in my name. And I do not say that, I shall
pray to the father for you because the father himself loves
(01:21):
you for loving me. And believing that I came from
God. I came from the father and have
come into the world, and now I leave the world to go to the
father. So, an interesting passage, as
always, we want to start by asking, what's the context,
when, and where is this happening?
We're in the midst of the farewell discourse, which goes
(01:43):
over, quite a few chapters starts of the Last Supper,
although they're probably on their way to the Garden of
Gethsemane now. So they're on the road, walking
the last thing. Jesus said to them, to the
apostles was, you are sad now. Now, but when I return, you will
be filled with joy. Today we're starting at verse
23, be and whenever you see thatA or B, it's pretty rare,
(02:06):
although it does show up sometimes in the lectionary
readings, it basically means thelectionary has split a
particular verse into two parts.So 23 B is the second half or
the second sentence rather in verse 23 and that's where our
reading starts today. Jesus said to his disciples.
So let's keep in mind that audience.
(02:29):
I tell you most solemnly now whenever you hear that phrase as
you probably know by. Now, if you've been listening
for a while that phrase indicates that Jesus wants his
audience to pay attention, he's about to say, something really
important to them. Anything you ask for, from the
father, So any request that the apostles asked from the father,
(02:49):
keep in mind, the audience here,the apostles, he will grant in
my name. So, we need to talk a bit about
this phrase in my name. What the basic idea of?
What, what Jesus is saying here is something like this.
Anything you ask for, in my namewill be granted, I think we
could rearrange the words and that's the basic meaning.
(03:12):
So, what does it mean to ask forsomething in Jesus name?
And this is something that Jesushas already covered.
Actually in the farewell discourse, 14:13, and then 15:16
both talked about this idea of the father, Grant Eating any
request, the apostles asked in his name.
So for the apostles to ask something, in Jesus name, it
(03:33):
basically means to ask for something that is in accordance
with his will and his identity. So, any request that is on that
same wavelength and if they're asking for something, which is
in accordance with Jesus will because Jesus and the father are
so closely United. Then by definition, the request
is also in line with the father's will and therefore, the
(03:54):
father will grant the request. That he's will as well to see
how that works. Anything.
Which is in Jesus name, means it's in Jews as will, which
means it's in the father's will.Which means Jesus is, which
means the father is going to Grant it for the purposes of
building his kingdom. Remember who the audience is?
This Promise is to the apostles.It does not necessarily extend
(04:16):
to us Christians in the same waytoday.
So we can't take this verse out of context and necessarily all
the time I play, apply This Promise of the father granting,
any of our requests to the same extent.
It may not apply in that way, verse 24.
Until now you have not asked foranything in my name.
(04:38):
So up until now through Jesus ministry when the Has prayed.
There might have asked for things in the name of the
father, but the concept of asking for something.
In Jesus name was knew they had not heard this idea before.
Why does Jesus bring it up now while it's because he's about to
die and be resurrected. And the idea is, as we saw in
the last couple of sections on this podcast through Jesus
(05:02):
resurrection, he's going to gainabsolute Authority through his
resurrection. So that means after his
resurrection, any prayers, whichMade in Jesus name from that
point on will be in accordance with Jesus Authority.
And by then Jesus Authority willbe absolute.
And therefore to ask for those prayers in line with Jesus.
(05:24):
Absolute Authority means that they're going to be granted so
it's a bit convoluted but hopefully you can see how that
works. If you're interested in looking
at what Jesus says about having absolute Authority, then go back
and have a look through the podcasts in the last couple of
days where early in John chapter16 Jesus.
Jesus discusses his authority that he's going to receive after
his resurrection verse 24, Jesusgoes on ask and you will
(05:49):
receive. That's a rephrasing of the same
idea about asking in the name ofJesus, it's the same basic
teaching and so your joy will becomplete.
So that's the purpose of the Apostles asking for things in
Jesus name, it's to bring about complete joy for the apostles.
The idea here is when the apostles pray for something in
(06:10):
Jesus name and they see those prayers, being answered by the
Father, the apostles Will Rejoice, because they get to be
part of this deep Divine communion with the father and
the son, it's a source of great joy for them.
And you sort of see that in the book of Acts, when the father
grants these, incredible things through them verse 25 I have
(06:30):
been telling you all this in metaphors.
Other translations have that word is figures.
This is interesting, isn't it? Jesus.
He reveals that most of the farewell discourse has been
veiled, speech, some sort of partially obscure speech that
he's been giving Jesus here, admits that he's not been
speaking as plain as he could be, and particularly this would
(06:54):
apply to the metaphor of the True Vine earlier, in John
chapter 15, in the farewell discourse Jesus did the parable
of the True Vine. And that was clearly a metaphor.
But Jesus seems to imply here that a lot of what he's been
saying. In the farewell discourse is a
metaphor or a figure and that would explain why the repulse
the apostles repeatedly, do not understand what he's saying, in
(07:17):
the farewell discourse and they often ask for clarification.
They don't understand so Jesus, he admits that he's using veiled
speech. Why would he do that?
Why not just speak plainly all the time, particularly to his
Apostles. It's probably because the
teachings that Jesus has in mindhear the teachings about the
father. And his identity and his
(07:39):
relationship with the father. It's probably means that these
teachings are so complex and theapostles.
At this point are not yet in a spiritual state, where they can
handle these plane teachings about the father because they're
too complex if Jesus tried to reveal the complexities of the
Trinity of this point in the apostles Ministry.
They would not understand. And that's because they don't
(08:01):
yet, have the help of the Holy Spirit, they need to wait for
the Holy Spirit to come before Jesus can give Um, these deeper
insights. So in the meantime, he has to
juice use metaphors. This is important.
And there's a question here, about the extent to which Jesus
is applying this? Does he mean to say that
(08:21):
everything has been saying in his ministry, up until this
point, has been in metaphors? It could be an, if it if that is
what Jesus means. That's very significant because
that would mean that a lot of what Jesus says about the father
in particular during his ministries.
Sure we shouldn't press that too.
Literally he's been using metaphors all the way through so
(08:43):
it depends. Whether we take Jesus to mean,
he's reflecting on the entire Ministry or he's reflecting just
on the speech in the farewell discourse.
So there's some interesting implications though, Jesus
admits that he uses metaphors, rather than speaking plainly and
that's why doing exegesis is so important.
Particularly of Parables, parables are not supposed to be
(09:03):
pressed too much. There's certain elements Jesus
wants us to see about God, but we shouldn't over read them.
And that's why we're giving you Tools in this podcast to help
you do exegesis which tries our best to get it.
What? Jesus was intending, he goes on
the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in
(09:24):
metaphors, but tell you about the father in plain words, when
does that happen? When does that our arrive
probably during the apostolic age after Jesus Ascension?
Jesus, at that point starts to speak to them through the Holy
Spirit. And through the Holy Spirit,
Jesus reveals deeper and planar truths about the father.
(09:46):
And that makes sense because we believe that in the apostolic
age all that the father, willed to be part of the deposit of
Faith, divine revelation, At least the initial divine
revelation that was given to theapostles in those early years by
the holy spirit. So the apostles declared it in
their speech and they also put it down in writing which made it
(10:07):
into the New Testament. That is certainly in line with
what Jesus said earlier in chapter 16 verse 13, the holy
spirit will speak to you what hehears.
So Jesus here is prophesying that a time is coming very
shortly when the apostles will understand deeper things about
God and about the trinity. Through the help of the holy
spirit in the apostolic age. Verse 26, when that day comes,
(10:31):
you will ask in my name. So, that's when this kind of
prayer that he was talking aboutstarts to become quite dominant.
When they have the help of the holy spirit in the apostolic
age, then Jesus adds this interesting comment, and I do
not say that, I shall pray to the father for you.
Now, this might strike us as a bit strange because we believe
(10:52):
that Jesus is our intercessor for the father, and that he can
pass on prayers to the father. So the meaning here, he must be
that when the apostles in particular asked for something
in Jesus name, It's not like Jesus will hear the request and
bring it to the father, rather for the apostles, the father
himself will hear their prayers and then grant their request.
(11:15):
So Jesus he wants the apostles to understand that he and the
father are so United. The prayer in Jesus name is
prayer. That goes directly to the
father, at least for the apostles.
That is and Jesus. Now explains why it is that the
apostles prayers are going to godirectly to the father, it's
worth stopping at this point. I'm thinking about, you know,
(11:36):
what this means about the apostles, we sometimes don't
realize the significant privileges that the apostles had
access to those early years, in the book of Acts and afterwards,
God was doing new things, incredible things through the
apostles, and they have access to spiritual gifts, and prayers,
and benefits that we after the apostolic age, don't necessarily
(11:58):
have access to. He poured out special gifts in
those early years of expanding the kingdom.
And we call that time period, the apostolic age.
Verse 27 because the father himself loves you for loving me
and believing that I came from God.
So Jesus here teaches that the father has a special love for
(12:18):
the apostles because of their belief in Jesus and their
Devotion, to following him. This idea of a special love of
the father has come up a few times in the discourse.
And remember, we've been saying in the podcast that God does
have a special kind of love for Jesus followers.
Particularly the apostles but that doesn't count against his
(12:39):
General love that he has for theworld in general.
They're two different things. So the implication here is that
the father will not hear. Jesus doesn't say this but I
think it's contained at least implied.
The father will not directly hear everyone's prayers in this
way. Instead Jesus will have to be an
intercessor for some people's prayers at least but at, but if
(13:03):
that's the correct interpretation, what he's saying
is that the apostles in particular, in virtue of their
Divine Mission and their closeness to Jesus, they will
have their prayers heard by the father directly but not
necessarily all Christians. Hopefully, that makes sense
verse 28. I came from the father and have
come into the world so that his Incarnation, the father sent the
(13:26):
son to take. Human flesh.
And now I leave to the world to go to the father and that's a
prophecy about his coming Ascension into heaven.
Scholars, often talk about Jesusministry as one, great Parabola,
like a great valley where he starts in heaven.
He descends to earth once his ministry on Earth is finished,
he returns to heaven. So it's a great you shape.
(13:49):
Although there's something that we often forget, which is part
of Christian teaching and it hasprofound implications often we
consider it, It to be something like this.
The second person of the Trinitycame down to earth and in the
person of Jesus did his thing and then he returned back to
heaven. And everything was basically the
way it was before the second person of the Trinity was the
(14:10):
same had the same appearance in the same everything as before it
was just sort of a short-term mission on Earth, actually the
Christian teaching and this is pretty clear in the Bible is
that when Jesus goes back to heaven and his Ascension, he has
something that he didn't didn't have before.
He has a physical body and Jesuskeeps that physical body in
heaven, with the father. Before the second person of the
(14:32):
Trinity was sent to Earth. He was just a spirit, but after
Jesus ministry, he retains Jesus, physical body, forever
for eternity. And it's that special thing that
the second person of the Trinitydid taking on human flesh and
then ascending in that human flesh that allows us as humans
to keep our bodies on the last day in the final Resurrection as
(14:55):
well. So it's pretty incredible.
Edible, when you think of it, ittruly was a sacrifice that the
second person of the Trinity made.
He took on human flesh forever for eternity.
Now, interestingly, this is justa side comment but a lot of
theologians point out the because of that fact, because
Jesus Took on human flesh and then returned to heaven for all
(15:16):
eternity to have human flesh that probably counts against
this idea of there being intelligent life on other
planets. Because if there is intelligent
life on other planets then presumably they might Fallen as
well. They're affected by the curse.
But Jesus has only taken on human flesh and he's got human
flesh for all eternity. So he wouldn't be able to redeem
(15:36):
these other non-human creatures.So that's kind of convoluted
isn't it? But a lot of Scholars have
pointed out that we need to takeJesus bodily nature in heaven,
quite seriously in terms of Galactic implications.
So that is the end of the passage for today and that
farewell discourse is going to continue In you, in the coming
(15:57):
days, will continue to continue to look at chapter 16, right?
Into verse 7 of chapter 17, as well.
Let's just look at a few short. Catechism, paragraphs, paragraph
2615. This is about Jesus model of
prayer, even more what the father gives us when our prayer
is united with, that of Jesus isanother counselor to be with you
(16:21):
forever. Even the spirit, of Truth, this
new dimension of prayer and of at Stances is displayed
throughout the farewell discourse in the Holy Spirit.
Christian prayer is a communion of love with the father.
Not only through Christ but alsoin him.
Here, the two you've you have asked for nothing in my name,
(16:42):
ask and you will receive that your joy may be full.
See here that quote there at theend is directly from John 16.
Paragraph. 2815, this is a commentary on the line of the,
Our Father, Hallowed be thy name.
It says this petition, embodies all the others, like the six
petitions that follow it. It is fulfilled by the prayer of
(17:05):
Christ's prayer to our father isour prayer.
If it is prayed in the name of Jesus, Paragraph 661 this is
about the Ascension. The final stage stays closely
linked to the first that is to his descent from heaven.
In the Incarnation. Only, the one who came from the
father can return to the father Christ.
(17:27):
Jesus, no one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended
from Heaven, the son of man, Lastly paragraph, 2795 again.
This is from the Our father but we're looking at the line Who
Art in Heaven. It says in Christ, then Heaven
and Earth are reconciled for thesun alone.
Descended from heaven and causesus to ascend there with him by
(17:51):
his cross resurrection and Ascension.
So here, as in most of the farewell discourse, it's rich in
theological, meaning there's a whole lot.
We can glean about the Trinity about our relationship to the
father about the gifts. He gives the church so much
richness in here, and hopefully,you're enjoying learning the
(18:13):
literal sense of the text of thefarewell discourse because
there's a lot we can take from it.
If you have learned something new today, please share this
with other people so that we canget the word out there and set
more Catholics on fire. For their faith.
Thank you so much for listening.Please tune in again tomorrow.
Thank you so much for listening.Please tune in again tomorrow.
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