IN THE UPPER ROOM WITH JESUS (23)

Policies and Procedures

John 16:23-28

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   We have been studying the discourse Jesus had with His disciples while in an upper room the night prior to His crucifixion.

 

B.   He is preparing these men for the position they will carry out as apostles, ambassadors sent out on a special mission.

 

C.   In our last study, He told the disciples three things:

1.    A little while and ye shall not see me.

2.    A little while and ye shall see me.

3.    I go to my Father.

 

D.   When these things transpired, the kingdom of Jesus Christ would soon follow. 

 

E.   In Jesus next words to His disciples, He discusses some “Policies and Procedures” that will be important in the days ahead.  Our study is found in John16:23-28.

 

I.             REQUESTS (John 16:23-24)

 

A.   A Difference (John 16:23a)

 

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing…

 

1.    As someone reads this verse, he might ask:  “What day is Jesus referencing?”

2.    The answer lies in the closing words of John 16:28.  “…again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.”

3.    After Jesus departs from the earth to the right hand of God, something is going to change. 

a.    That change is in the words:  “…ye shall ask me nothing…”

b.    Up till that time, Jesus had been with His disciples in a literal, personal way.

c.    They could ask anything of Him and receive an answer.

1.    Why speakest to them in parables? (Matt. 13:10)

2.    Why could we not cast him out? (Matt. 17:19)

3.    Carest thou not that we perish (Mark 14:38).

d.    This would change when Jesus ascended into heaven.

 

B.   A Directive (John 16:23b)

 

…Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

 

1.    The Address to the Father:  Instead of asking Jesus for things, they would now ask things of the Father.

2.    The Authority of Jesus Christ:  When they asked something of the Father, they were to ask in the name of Jesus.

a.    They were to approach the Father through the authority of Jesus Christ.

b.    At the gate beautiful, Peter desired to heal a lame man.  His words are recorded in Acts 3:6.

 

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:  in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

 

3.    The Assurance of An Answer:  They were told that if they asked something of the Father in Jesus’ name, “he will give it you” (See Acts 3:7-8a).

 

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up:  and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  And he leaping up stood, and walked…

 

C.   A Detail (John 16:24a)

 

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name…

 

1.    During their training period with Jesus, they did not have to ask anything in His name.

2.    They simply asked things of Him directly.

3.    Now, to get to the Father, they needed the divine authority of Jesus to make such an approach.

 

D.   The Derivatives (John 1616:24b)

1.    An Answer:  “…and ye shall receive…”

2.    An Affect:  “…that your joy may be full.” 

a.    These men could ask of God at any time and receive their request.

b.    Example:  An answer to their pray for boldness (Acts 4:31).

 

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word with boldness..

 

c.    Can you imagine the joy that filled their hearts knowing that their labors were being assisted with the divine help of the Almighty God?

 

II.           THE REVELATION (John 16:25-26)

 

A.   The Dark Sayings (John 16:25a)

 

These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs…

 

1.    While Jesus was on earth, the apostles were not blessed with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

2.    These men only heard the words of Jesus Christ.

a.    His words were true.

b.    His words were preparatory.

c.    His words were often not completely understood.

d.    What Jesus declared were just “short, pithy, statements,” of things to come.

 

B.   The Divine Revelation (John 16:25b)

 

…but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

 

1.    Again, Jesus points them to a time to come.

2.    They would receive the Comforter, the Spirit of truth (Acts 2:1-4).

3.    At that time, all things would begin to be revealed to them (John 16:13).

 

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth:  for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:  and he will shew you things to come.

 

a.    How many times did the apostles have “Aha” moments?

b.    How many times did they connect what Jesus had said in the past to what they were experiencing in the present?

c.    How many times did they wonder at the marvelous plan that God was revealing through them to the world?

 

C.   The Disciples’ Request (John 16:26)

 

At that day ye shall ask in my name:  and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you.

 

1.    When they stood in need of divine revelation from God, they could ask the Father for it in Jesus’ name.

2.    NOTE:  These men had a wonderful blessing at their disposal as the apostles of Jesus Christ.

3.    The last part of this verse is a little confusing.

a.    Jesus is not saying that He will not pray the Father to grant their request.

b.    This is an ellipsis.  “I will not tell you again, that I will pray the Father for you.”

1)    He had assured them before that He could intervene on their behalf.

2)    There was need for Him to keep expressing that assurance to them.

 

III.         THE RELATIONSHIPS (John 16:27-28)

 

A.   The Devotion (John 16:27a)

 

For the Father himself loveth you…

 

1.    The reason they could be assured of an answer to their requests is because the Father loved them.

2.    The Greek word here is “phileo.”  It involves an affectionate love that God had for them.

3.    God looked upon these men as His dear friends.

 

B.   The Determinates (John 16:27b-28)

1.    Their Adoration of the Christ (John 16:27b)

 

…because ye have loved me…

 

a.    One of the reasons God loved these men so much is because they deeply loved His Son.

b.    The word “love” here is also “phileo.”  These men had a deep affection for the Christ.  Their love had manifested itself in many ways.

1)    They left all.

2)    They did not flee from the Christ when His teachings were hard or when He suffered persecution.

3)    They did His will when they were asked.

2.    Their Allegiance of Faith (John 16:27c-28)

 

…and have believed that I came out from God.  I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world:  again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

 

a.    These men believed in the claims of the Christ.

b.    These men believed in the mission of the Christ.

c.    These men believed in the teachings of the Christ.

d.    These men believed in the promises of the Christ.

e.    These man had put their absolute faith in everything about Jesus from His coming into the world until His departure from this world.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   When the time came for Jesus to ascend to the Father, there were some things that would change for the apostles.

1.    They would go the Father with their requests instead of asking Jesus.

2.    Too, they would go to the Father in the name of Jesus, something they had not done while Jesus was with them.

 

B.   If they followed these two procedures, Jesus assured them that they would have their requests answered.

1.    “He will give it to you” (v. 23)

2.    “I shall shew you plainly of the Father” (v. 25).

3.    “I will pray the Father for you” (v.26).

 

C.   Mark 16:19-20

 

So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, confirming the word with signs following.