John 16:23-24
23 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. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
This is one of the common sayings of Jesus, and it appears several times here in John’s gospel, and also in the others.
Here’s my question: does this work? Is this statement meaningful to us, here in 20th century America? I’ve seen many cases where someone asks for something specific: healing, job, family – and they don’t receive what they ask for. And that seems like the way that this should work, if it does at all; that it’s not just a magic coin box that you can ask for something and it will pop out into existence. But does it work? Or is this a tool that was used by the early disciples and not again later?