11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
11 "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
24 Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!
24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
24 You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
(Read John 16:23-27)
Asking of the Father shows a sense of spiritual wants, and a desire of spiritual blessings, with conviction that they are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ's name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favours from God, and shows full dependence upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness. Our Lord had hitherto spoken in short and weighty sentences, or in parables, the import of which the disciples did not fully understand, but after his resurrection he intended plainly to teach them such things as related to the Father and the way to him, through his intercession. And the frequency with which our Lord enforces offering up petitions in his name, shows that the great end of the mediation of Christ is to impress us with a deep sense of our sinfulness, and of the merit and power of his death, whereby we have access to God. And let us ever remember, that to address the Father in the name of Christ, or to address the Son as God dwelling in human nature, and reconciling the world to himself, are the same, as the Father and Son are one.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 15:11
Commentary on John 15:9-17
(Read John 15:9-17)
Those whom God loves as a Father, may despise the hatred of all the world. As the Father loved Christ, who was most worthy, so he loved his disciples, who were unworthy. All that love the Saviour should continue in their love to him, and take all occasions to show it. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment, but the joy of those who abide in Christ's love is a continual feast. They are to show their love to him by keeping his commandments. If the same power that first shed abroad the love of Christ's in our hearts, did not keep us in that love, we should not long abide in it. Christ's love to us should direct us to love each other. He speaks as about to give many things in charge, yet names this only; it includes many duties.