Ask Whatever You Will

Interesting how so many things come in groups of threes. One is too lonely. Two is better, but can create a rivalry. Three seems to be the optimum. There's the Trinity of course, the durable three-stranded cord that cannot easily be broken, and the Church's duty to Christ, Community, and Culture. There are also three strikes, three-pointers, and field goals. Notice that these lists come in threes too.

Well, here's another triple-connection that I recently came across as we've been studying the book of Mark. It involves the request to, "Ask Whatever You Will." In other words, I'll give you whatever you want, if...

Here's the first situation described in the New Testament, from the book of Matthew, when Jesus was being tempted by Satan in the wilderness:

"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”"
Matthew 4:8-10

Here we see that Jesus is offered a great deal of worldly riches, if only...He would bow down and worship Satan. Of course, Jesus rejects the offer, knowing full well that the riches in serving God alone far outweigh any riches that any other kingdom has to offer. Jesus was offered the greatest wealth imaginable on earth, and He refused it, for the sake of something much more enjoyable.

The second observation I made is found in the recount of Mark in his gospel:

"But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”"
Mark 6:21-25

Here's another story involving the forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist. But he's only the subordinate object of the story, not the subject. The subject of the story is the infamous daughter of Herodias, Herod Antipas' unrightful wife. In payment for her seductive dancing at the banquet, Herod makes the young girl an offer, "Ask whatever you will..." Her response is a tragic one, costing the head of John the Baptist.

First observation: When given the opportunity to take anything from the great kingdom of Herod, the young woman is unable to even make her own decision to answer the king. She apparently has an inability to make a thoughtful, conscious decision, so she consults her mother.
Second observation: In obedience to her mother's instructions, the young woman settles for a very small part of Herod's kingdom -- one that has absolutely no consequence to her whatsoever.

Bottom line: The twisted proposition of King Herod puts the power in the hands of a thoughtless young woman and her wicked mother, so John the Baptist loses his head. But more importantly for the young woman -- what a waste! She could have had anything, but she chose something so small for herself. For her, given a question such as the one proposed by Herod, with the young woman's abdication of limitless potential and the resulting lack of choice, her most extravagant dreams and desires reveal themselves to truly be deep, dark pieces of despair and hopelessness. Her dreams are not dreams at all, she's too hopeless to even think of such grandeur. A pity, indeed.

Finally, the third piece, found in the gospel of John:

"“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."
John 14:12-14

Because Jesus decided originally to reject Satan's attempts in the wildnerness (see part one), the Kingdom that He gained is one of infinite, unending splendor. For us who believe, we join Him in this indescribable kingdom. As fellow heirs with Him, He gives us a certain degree of authority to "Ask Whatever You Will." For the sake of His name, our desires can be limitless and we can trust that He will answer our requests perfectly according to His will.

We get to dream big and our dreams can count for something. And Jesus will accomplish His intended will in us and through us and for us, for His pleasure and our joy. Amen!