James J Stewart

In Jesus' Name James J Stewart

This book grows out of a conversation that took place in a home Bible study session. While studying John's gospel, someone seemed somewhat agitated while discussing John 14:13: "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (ESV). He felt that there must be something lost in the translation, because, as it is usually translated, it did not seem to be true. No one was satisfied with the discussion that followed. After reading a number of readily available commentaries on the passage, the author was not completely satisfied with any of the interpretations of the passage. This was compared to the passage in Matthew's gospel, where Jesus curses a fig tree. "And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once. [Matthew 21:19 (ESV)] The two passages appear related. Insights into these two passages did not come easily.