In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
“in that day” points to the time after their sorrow is turned into joy, i.e. after the resurrection.
Jesus uses 2 different words which are both translated as “ask” in English. The first means to question and the second means to request.
As we have seen, the disciples had indeed asked Jesus some questions. Henry interestingly categorizes them thus: “They had asked some ignorant questions (as John 9:2), some ambitious questions (as Matt 18:1), some distrustful ones (as Matt 19:27), some impertinent ones, (as John 21:21), some curious ones (as Acts 1:6)”. The interesting thing to note is that after the coming of the Holy Spirit, they didn’t ask any more questions, they just obeyed (Acts 10:20-23). They had received two things which made this possible: first, the Holy Spirit now lived within them and taught them everything they needed to know and second, they had the completed revelation of the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus which showed them more than they could ever have received by just asking Jesus questions.
John 9:2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Matthew 19:27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
John 21:21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Acts 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Acts 10:20-23 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along.
The second aspect of “asking” is to request something, which is what Jesus is referring to at the end of the verse. This is different from the asking mentioned by Jesus in the first part of the verse. Jesus promises the disciples (and us) that God will give us everything we ask for and the only stipulation He adds is that we ask “in His name”.
Remember that to ask in the name of Jesus does not mean to use His name as a formula; that would be a form of magic. It means that our prayer must be in accordance with everything Jesus is, the whole essence of his being, all that His name stands for. For example, to ask that He send someone to hell would not be answered because it goes against His nature (Luke 19:10, 2 Peter 3:9), but to ask that He draw a sinner to Himself would be a request He would answer (John 12:32). We have a similar thought in our time. If I do something in your name, that means I am doing it on your behalf and as your representative. An ambasador from one nation to another goes in the name of his country and speaks in its behalf. His will must be in harmony with the leadership of his country or he will soon be replaced.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
John 12:32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”
So it is with us in our spiritual lives. All of our prayers will be answered when we pray “in the name of Jesus” which means praying in total harmony with His will, humbly submitting all of our wishes to the will of God. That is when self is taken out of the way and we are truly praying “in the name of Jesus.” God wants to give us the desires of our hearts, but not the desires of our flesh. When our hearts are desiring what He wants, then they are lined up with His will and our requests are certain to come (Psalm 37:4). If we can really pray the same prayer Jesus did in (Luke 22:42), then we are praying “in His name.” That is the real key to answered prayer.
Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
What is really incredible here is that by the time to which Jesus is here referring, His name will mean a lot more because it will include His atoning sacrifice on the cross. If we ask anything based upon all that Jesus is and has done, God will give it. Note also that asking in Jesus’ name indicates a dependence upon Him by us. To do so, we must have come to a point where we realize that by ourselves we can do nothing, but that Christ can indeed do everything. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God in heaven and he has been given the Name that is above all names and at which every knee must bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord (Php 2:9-11). Asking in His Name means asking in the Name of The Exalted One, Who is Lord of lords and King of kings. Not only has He given us that authority, but He has also said that we will do it. Can anything we ask in His Name and according to His will be denied? No!
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.