Why We Pray In Jesus Name
When we come and ask in His namer, or close our prayers this way, we are coming to the Father through Jesus own name, not our own
“When you get to the door, tell them I said to let you in,” I jokingly told my friend.
“Really?” he asked.
“Yes, and they’ll say ‘Who?’”
He laughed, knowing then the ticket-taker at the venue would have now idea who I was. Even though he had my name, it carried no weight or authority in that place at all.
But as children of God, we have the Name above all names.
There are a number of things Jesus tells us to do in His name. Among these are to gather (Matthew 18:20), to suffer (Matthew 10:22), to serve (Mark 9:41), to hold fast (Revelation 2:13), and to pray in His name:
If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14).
What does Jesus mean with “in My name?”
We do not ask things of Him in our own accord, meaning our own authority or ability. Like an ambassador does not go to a country on his own authority, but of the nation he represents. It is on the basis of who Jesus is and what He has done, that we do can these things.
The authority of Jesus is as the only Righteous Son of God. He alone has access to the Father, and He brings our prayers to Him as though they are His very own. Apart from Jesus, we would be kept out of the throne room of God because of our sin and unrighteousness.
In fact, no one can come to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6). It is through Him that we have access by one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18) and in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him (Ephesians 3:12).
When we come and ask in Jesus Name, or close our prayers this way, we are coming to the Father through Jesus own name, not our own. He tore the curtain in the temple to the most holy place, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, He ever lives to make intercession for us. As our Mediator, Jesus has promised to do anything which faithful believers ask for in His name—that which is according to His character and authority.
Writes David Guzik: In My name is not a magic incantation of prayer; it speaks of both an endorsement (like a bank check) and a limitation (requests must be in accordance with the character of the name).
When we ask in this manner, Jesus promises He will do it. Why?
The previous verse tells us, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Why end our prayers in Jesus Name?
Dr. Alan Cairns explains there are various reasons. First because He commanded us to. Also because of the significance; real prayer is praying on His authority, it is not our hit-and-miss wish list. And, because it is presented on the merit of Jesus.
We are asking the Father to give to us that which Christ deserved, that He has merited for us through His life and death, through His personal righteousness and obedience. He has merited for us all benefits of covenant grace, and our asking in His Name is that He would confer to us all these benefits.
O God, grant us graciously what Christ has purchased for us.
We ask of the Father in Jesus Name, that the Father would look upon Jesus and grant us the answer to our prayers for His sake, for His honor, for His glory.
Let us go and pray in Jesus Name.
