How does a person pray in Jesus' name?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Some have interpreted John 14:12-14 to mean that if we merely end our prayers with the words "in Jesus' name," we will receive anything we want. However, praying in Jesus’ name is not a magic key we can use to unlock whatever we want. Instead, it expresses our position in and before Christ. We approach Father God through Jesus because of His sacrifice on the cross for our sins (John 1:29). As our high priest, Jesus bridges the gap between us and God (Hebrews 4:14-5:10), so it is appropriate to submit all our prayers to God in Jesus’ name, specifically. In fact, Jesus is specifically called our mediator in 1 Timothy 2:5-6. We know that because Jesus is part of the Holy Trinity, we can pray anything and know that if it is in God’s will, it is in Jesus’ will, too (John 4:34; 5:19; see also 1 John 5:14-15).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Praying in Jesus’ name is not addressed in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• When we pray in Jesus' name we also pray with His blessing. Because Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who purifies us through His work on the cross for our salvation (John 1:29), we can approach Him in prayer.
• We know that the will of Jesus is the same as the will of the Father (John 4:34; 5:19), so it is appropriate to pray to Father God in the name of Jesus.
• John 14:12-14 records Jesus saying, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." This passage doesn’t mean that we get whatever we want by merely throwing out Jesus’s name in prayer. When we pray in Jesus’ name, it should reflect our new identity in Christ.
• We can pray in Jesus' name because He is our High Priest who represents us so we can approach God (Hebrews 4:14-5:10). When we approach God in Jesus' name, we are claiming His redemption and, therefore, our worthiness to talk to God.
• Since Jesus acts as mediator between us and God (1 Timothy 2:5-6), it is fitting to pray in His name.
• Praying in Jesus' name means to pray in accordance with His will based on our position in Him. We pray for His will with His power. First John 5:14-15 says, "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

To do something in someone's name means to act in line with that person's character, on his behalf, or with her blessing. We express the person's will and rely on his or her authority. For instance, when an assistant calls "in the name of" his or her boss, the assistant is carrying out the will of her boss and doing so in the boss’s authority. We do the same when we pray in Jesus' name; we submit ourselves to His will and claim His authority as He allows. When we pray in Jesus' name, we pray based on our salvation in Him, according to His will, and, therefore, with His authority. Such a prayer brings glory to the Father.

UNDERSTAND

• Praying in Jesus’ name does not mean that believers get whatever they want by merely saying His name at the end of a prayer.
• Praying in Jesus’ name means praying in His will and authority.
• Jesus is the mediator between believers and the Father, and the Father’s will is Jesus’ will.

REFLECT

• How do you submit and surrender yourself to Jesus as you pray?
• How do you ensure your prayers align with God’s will?
• How do you glorify God in your prayer life?

ENGAGE

• What does it mean to pray in God’s will?
• How can believers ensure that ending prayers “in Jesus’ name” is meaningful rather than perfunctory?
• How does praying in Jesus’ name deepen our understanding of our identity and authority in Christ?