THE COMMA

I visited a new church this morning, or to be more correct, a church new to me. The people were quite friendly, and the pastor preached a very good message, one that was scripturally accurate, at least until his final point. Now, in his defense, I've heard the passage preached and interpreted EXACTLY the same way he did this morning, and probably the way a majority of pastors would interpret it. However, just because the majority views a passage one way doesn't mean there isn't validity in a minority viewpoint. 

The passage in question was John 15:7, where Jesus says, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." Now the pastor preached that bearing much fruit and proving to be Jesus' disciples brings glory to Father God, and I do not disagree with that, however, there is no grammatically correct reason to place a comma after "glory". If, on the other hand, you want to tie the Father's glory to a previous thought then the comma is necessary. That little comma actually changes the focal point. In what brings glory to the Father? That we abide in Jesus and allow his words to abide in us, so that we have the faith to ask for anything in Jesus' name, and it will be granted. I checked in every translation and even transliteration I had, and every one included that comma, so it must be important.

You see, when we abide in Jesus, and allow his words to permeate our lives, our desires become the very desires Jesus wants for us. Therefore, when we act in faith and ask for WHATEVER we want in Jesus' name, and we believe it will be granted God is glorified by our obedience and faithful words and actions. Further, our obedience produces fruit, and this also glorifies God, as does our actions proving to be Jesus' disciple. But it all starts with asking, in Jesus' name. That's what I believe that little comma is telling us.

Food for thought...