In Tom’s name.

Have you ever wondered why we finish a prayer “In Jesus name amen?” Another question: On the verge of His death why Jesus said we could ask anything in His name (John 16:23). The best way to explain it is for me to tell you a story I heard a while ago.

John grew up in the city. His home was not much different from a hundred others along the same street. His dad earned enough money to feed the family, and that was about all. They were poor!

On the other hand, Tom grew up in one of the Southern States of America. His father owned a great plantation and was a wealthy cotton grower. His home was a mansion. Tom had everything he wanted.

Under ordinary circumstances John and Tom would never have gotten to know each other. But when the American Civil war broke out in the 1860’s, both boys joined the Army of the Confederate States, and both were assigned to the same regiment. They found themselves in the same barracks, bunking next to each other.

Dressed as they were in Army uniform, it was impossible to tell which one came from the rich home and which one from the poor one. During the four years of the war, they did many things together and became close friends.

Of course, John soon found out how rich Tom was, and Tom found out how poor John was.

               “No matter,” said Tom, “My dad gives me everything I want, and he has promised that when he dies, he will leave his entire estate to me. So, you don’t have to worry about the future, John. I will see that you get everything you need. We’ll have great times together after the war!”

Then in one of those last battles, Tom was wounded badly. With no one to take care of his battle wounds he was soon running a bad fever. The wound grew red and puffy. Blood poisoning followed. John did everything he could for his friend, trying to reduce the pain, trying to make Tom comfortable, fetching water, hunting food for Tom to eat and writing letters to the folks back home.

Soon both boys knew there was no hope. Tom wasn’t going to pull through. When Tom realized this, he said to John, “You have been so good to me, I wish I could do something for you. When I am dead, go to my father and tell him I want him to give you everything he was planning to give me.”

John protested, “No. no. I haven’t done anything to deserve that.”

               Tom said, “Get a piece of paper and write what I tell you.”

John obeyed. You can’t argue with a dying man.

               Tom dictated: “Dear Dad, John is my friend. Please give him everything he asks for, in my name.”  John wrote carefully. Then Tom took the pen and signed his name at the bottom.

It was the last thing he did. John saw that he got a decent burial. A few months later the war was over.

John had no intention of going to Tom’s father to ask for any gifts. Tom had been his friend, and he knew that if things had worked out the other way round, Tom would have looked after him just as carefully.

However, after the war there were so many soldiers looking for work that jobs were very hard to find. At last, penniless, hungry, and still wearing his old Army uniform, John knew it was useless to fight the facts any longer. He must ask for help.

He had no trouble finding Tom’s old home. Tom had told him exactly where it was. But when he saw it, he almost lost his courage. Despite the war, it was still an imposing estate. John fingered the folded note in his pocket, hoping, “Perhaps with Tom’s note they will help me.”

A servant answered the door. “I’m terribly hungry,” John began, “and I wandered…” He was cut short by an angry voice inside the house. “tell that boy to run along. We’ve been bothered by beggars for months. We can’t be giving to all of them.”

John held out the precious paper to the servant. “Take this to him please.”

The servant shrugged and went in with Tom’s note.

What a change that note produced! Tom’s father, the master of the estate, came running to the door. He flung it wide open and almost pulled John inside. “So, you are Tom’s friend,” he exclaimed. “Come in, John, come in. For Tom’s sake you shall have everything I possess. In Tom’s name I will give you everything you need. Come on in and tell me what you want.” John was overwhelmed. He had never realized how much a father will do for a friend of his son – especially if that son has died.

But Jesus knew! That’s why he said to His friends before he died, “Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you.”