John 14 14

John 14:14 kjv

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

John 14:14 nkjv

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

John 14:14 niv

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

John 14:14 esv

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

John 14:14 nlt

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

John 14 verses

John 14 14 Meaning

John 14:14 declares Jesus' promise that whatever His followers ask of Him, acting according to His character and authority, for His purposes, He will accomplish. This promise is contingent upon the nature of the request, requiring alignment with the Father's will and glorification, and made in genuine faith. It underscores Christ's divine power and His disciples' intimate relationship with Him, enabling them to participate in His ongoing work.

John 14 14 Context

John 14:14 is part of Jesus' Farewell Discourse to His disciples, spoken the night before His crucifixion. Chapters 13-17 in John's Gospel serve as Jesus' final teachings, comforting and preparing His disciples for His imminent departure, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the new era of their ministry without His physical presence. This verse directly follows John 14:12-13, where Jesus promises that His believers will do "greater works" through Him and reiterates that whatever is asked in His name, He will do to glorify the Father. The broader context includes Jesus explaining His intimate union with the Father, promising the Spirit as another Helper, and establishing the basis for ongoing fellowship and miraculous activity in His absence. This promise is given to a group feeling abandoned and confused, offering them assurance of continued divine power and accessibility through prayer "in His name."

John 14 14 Word analysis

• If (ἐάν - ean): This Greek particle introduces a third-class condition, indicating a potential, probable, or fulfilled action. It signifies that the following promise is contingent upon the disciples meeting the condition of asking "in my name."

• you ask (αἰτήσητε - aitēsēte): From the verb aiteō, meaning "to ask for, beg, crave, demand." It typically implies asking for something from an equal or inferior, or specifically from God for personal need (contrast with erōtaō, to question or ask as an equal, often used for Jesus asking the Father). Here, it implies petition and supplication from His disciples.

• me (με - me): Refers directly to Jesus. While many prayers are directed to the Father, this verse specifically promises that Jesus Himself will act when asked in His name, emphasizing His divine authority and executive power to fulfill such requests. This underlines His unity with the Father.

• anything (τι - ti): An indefinite pronoun meaning "something," "anything," or "a certain thing." It signifies the scope of the promise, appearing limitless. However, in light of biblical consistency (e.g., Jas 4:3, 1 Jn 5:14-15), this "anything" is understood within the bounds of God's will, character, and redemptive purposes. It's not a license for selfish or ungodly desires.

• in my name (ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου - en to onomati mou): This is the crucial qualification. "Name" (ὄνομα - onoma) in biblical context is more than a mere label; it represents the person's character, authority, power, will, and reputation.

  • To ask "in Jesus' name" means to ask consistently with who Jesus is, aligned with His nature, purposes, and desires.
  • It means exercising the authority Jesus has granted His followers, acting as His representative.
  • It implies a deep spiritual unity and abiding relationship with Him, where the one praying reflects Christ's heart and desires (Jn 15:7).
  • It is not a magic formula or incantation, but a condition of character and purpose.

• I will do (ἐγὼ ποιήσω - ego poiēsō): Ego (I) is emphatic, stressing Jesus' direct action and power. Poiēsō (I will do, make, accomplish) is a future active indicative, expressing a definitive promise that He Himself will carry out the requested action. This reasserts His divine ability and willingness to act on behalf of those who abide in Him.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "If you ask me anything": Sets up a conditional promise where the action originates from the disciple, directed towards Jesus. The broad scope "anything" requires careful interpretation within the surrounding biblical teachings about prayer.
  • "in my name": This phrase defines the necessary condition for effective prayer and marks the theological heart of the verse. It encapsulates obedience, relationship, divine will, and spiritual authority, transforming a simple request into a powerful, Christ-authorized petition.

John 14 14 Bonus section

The phrase "in my name" can be traced back to the Old Testament concept of the "name of the LORD" (e.g., Exod 20:7, Ps 20:7), which embodied God's essence, attributes, and power. Jesus' declaration thus extends this covenant understanding, asserting His own divine essence and authority as the ultimate embodiment of God's redemptive presence. The transition from direct asking of the Father in the future (Jn 16:23) indicates a growing intimacy and understanding the Spirit's role in aligning our prayers (Rom 8:26). While John 14:14 directs the asking to Jesus, subsequent teachings, especially in John 15 and 16, frequently mention asking the Father in Jesus' name. This illustrates the divine unity and flow of authority: through Jesus' name, access is granted to the Father, and Jesus himself, being one with the Father, performs the requested action for the Father's glory.

John 14 14 Commentary

John 14:14 is a profound assurance of Christ's continued active presence and power in the lives of His followers, even after His physical departure. This verse clarifies and reinforces the promise in the preceding verse (14:13). The key to unlocking this promise is the phrase "in my name." This is not a mere vocal utterance, but an invocation based on a living relationship with Jesus. It implies asking:

1. With His Authority: As His representative, commissioned by Him.
2. According to His Character: With motives and desires aligned with His holiness and love.
3. For His Purpose: Specifically, that the Father may be glorified through the Son, as stated in 14:13.This means the request must resonate with Jesus' mission and values, consistent with God's overarching will (1 Jn 5:14). It assumes that the disciple is abiding in Him, such that His words are abiding in them (Jn 15:7), shaping their desires. Jesus, with His divine power, promises to fulfill such prayers, demonstrating His unity with the Father and affirming His role as the One through whom all blessings and works of God flow. This promise empowers believers for their ministry and provides a source of comfort and strength, knowing their Lord is directly involved in their petitions when they seek His will.Example: A disciple praying for a sick person to be healed "in Jesus' name" is not just saying words, but invoking Christ's healing power, aligning with His compassion for the suffering and His desire to display God's glory through physical restoration, assuming such a healing is God's will. Another example could be a believer asking for strength to resist temptation "in Jesus' name," seeking Christ's empowering presence to live a life pleasing to God.