When I ask people at our prayer seminars to react honestly to Jesus’ seeming blank check in this Last Supper conversation, everyone is uncomfortable. One person asked, “Is he exaggerating?” Another said, “I don’t like to fail. If I pray and it doesn’t work, is my faith real? What is wrong with me? What is wrong with God?” Still another said, “It’s just not my experience.” Person after person said, “I’ve prayed, and it didn’t happen.” Those who paid close attention to Jesus’ fine print (“If you abide in me …” or “ask in my name”) were depressed because they don’t remain in him.
