What Does It Mean to “Pray in Jesus’ Name?”
There is an interesting analogy in the book of Esther. She had an urgent request to bring to the king, but it had been thirty days since the king had given her an invitation to see him. Esther feared coming to the king with her request because anyone who came to the king without being invited could be executed.
The need was urgent; she was desperate, so she took the risk. She came to the king. Instead of having her executed, he accepted her and asked her to name her request. The salient point of this part of Esther’s story was the king extending his scepter toward Esther indicating that she was allowed to speak to him.
This analogy gives an image of our relationship with our King. Our relationship with our King, the Almighty God, is similar and also different. It is similar in that God has extended the scepter to us. He has accepted us and allows our requests. It is different in that God’s scepter is always extended, and we have been invited to come at any time. We do not have to fear as did Esther; we can always come to God. We are always welcome. To illustrate the analogy and God’s “scepter,” we need to examine what Jesus said to His followers about bringing requests, what the followers did, and a New Testament writer’s explanation.
Listen to the words of Jesus before His death and resurrection as recorded by John in chapters 14, 15, and 16 of the Gospel of John. These words indicate our invitation to bring requests to God:
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified (honored) in the Son.”
“If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it.”
“That whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He may give it you.”
“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
“At that day ye shall ask in My Name; and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.”
What did the disciples do after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension? Listed below are brief excerpts from the book of Acts:
“In the name (authority) of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
“That by the name (authority) of Jesus Christ of Nazareth … even by Him doth this man stand before you whole.”
“And that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus.”
The writer of the book of Hebrews explains it like this:
“Let us therefore come boldly (with confidence) unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness (confidence, assurance) to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He hath consecrated for us, … let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…”
So, what does all of this mean for us? We have been given a great privilege: we have access to our King, to our God, 24/7 – 365. We have no reason to fear coming to Him because He has granted us the scepter, the privilege to come to Him at any time. This privilege was granted through the sacrifice and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Remember the words of Jesus, “the Father Himself loves you, because ye have loved Me, and believed that I came out from God.”
The injunction to pray “in Jesus’ Name” is not a secret formula or a set of magic words. It is the recognition that God has granted us access to Himself by the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to come confidently into the holiest place, the presence of God, because Jesus opened the door for us. We can come confidently to the throne of grace knowing that we have obtained mercy and will find help. We do not have to come to God in fear as did Esther when coming to her king. We can come in complete confidence that we are accepted.
If “in Jesus’ Name” were really a set of magic words, if Jesus was actually telling His followers to always conclude their requests with these exact words, we would have a form, a ritual, not a true confidence or trust in what God did for us. Simply repeating the words has no power. What happened to the Jews as recorded in Acts chapter 19? They were attempting to cast out some evil spirits by using the name of Jesus as a magic word. The problem was, they were not coming as those who had entrusted themselves to Jesus. They had not believed the message of the Gospel; they were just using the words. Their attempt failed; the magic words did not work.
Remember this the next time you pray. Realize that you have complete access to the Father. He has granted access to you because Jesus appropriated that access. Come to Him with confidence, with assurance that you are loved and accepted by God. You can visualize Him holding out the scepter to you every time you come to Him. He always will. And, His acceptance is not based upon your performance. Instead, it is based upon the performance of Jesus Christ for you. Recognizing this is truly praying in Jesus’ Name.
Break the Bread 