Jesus has all authority in Heaven and on earth (Mat. 28:18). Therefore, we are baptized in His name (Acts 10:48; Mat. 28:19,20), we are justified in His name (1 Cor. 6:11) and whatever we do in word or deed must be done in His name (Col. 3:17). Jesus is our mediator (1 Tim. 2:5) and He is sympathetic (Heb. 4:15). This may be one reason why it was important for Him to ascend bodily into Heaven—there will always be a part of Jesus that is man (Acts 17:31). Even though He is in Heaven, He has not forgotten how weak the flesh can be or who we often struggle in our physical bodies—He understands and sympathizes with us as an advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1). For over 3 years while Jesus was with His disciples, they took all their problems to Him and it was distressing that He would soon be gone from the earth. Therefore, He said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23). Jesus reassured the disciples that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth (John 16:13) and that He would still be listening as a mediator in prayer. For us, it is a comfort to know that Jesus has promised to be with us unto the end of the world (Mat. 28:20) and we can talk to God in prayer in His name. We do have to ask in faith (James 1:5) and we do have to ask according to God’s will (1 John 5:14,15). Remember that, “God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth” (John 9:31).
~Derrick Coble
~Derrick Coble