Seeker I don't take the Bible literally, and believe every word is literally true. I can say of those passages you mentioned. Well, let me show you ... I am sorry this is very long and I expect it was not what you wanted really....
According to BibleGateway.com John 14 13-14 in the NIV (New International Version) says (I'm including verses 11 and 12 because it gives a bit of context, hope that is OK)...
"11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
And in the Message (a slightly funkier more in the talk of the day - about 1993 to 2002 - version)
11-14 ?Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can?t believe that, believe what you see?these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I?m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I?ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I?ll do it. That?s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I?ll do.
So to me that is talking about doing things in a spiritual way, I know that you may find that a total cop out, but that is how I would read it.
I am using two versions as it gives a slightly different flavour and hopefully one is easier to understand.
Matthew 7 7. Can I add a few more verses to give it context, please?
NIV "7 ?Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 ?Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.."
and The Message ...
7-11 ?Don?t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn?t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we?re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn?t think of such a thing. You?re at least decent to your own children. So don?t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?
12 ?Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behaviour: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God?s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.?
I think this is also talking in spiritual terms about knocking on the door, asking and receiving God's love and forgiveness etc. Anyway that's what the commentary I saw said. I like the way it ends, ?Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.? Yes, the church could do a lot more of this.
Finally,
Matthew 21 22.
In The Message "21-22 But Jesus was matter-of-fact: ?Yes?and if you embrace this kingdom life and don?t doubt God, you?ll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you?ll tell, ?Go jump in the lake,? and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God.?
and NIV says similar "21 Jesus replied, ?Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ?Go, throw yourself into the sea,? and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.?
Do I honestly think Jesus was saying we could have faith that would move a mountain physically, I don't, I think it was a kind of picture image.
Anyway, I know that it doesn?t make a lot of sense to some but that is how I interpret these verses, not that I can literally ask for anything and God will deliver it. I mean there are a lot of wonderful and great things people could ask for and I understand how difficult it is to think of these things in a spiritual way.