Praying in Jesus’ Name
Lenten Devotional Series Day 12. Today’s meditation is on John 16:16-28.
Among evangelical Christians, it is customary to end our prayers “in Jesus’ name.” Let’s think about how and why we do this in light of the third commandment’s prohibition against misusing God’s name. The most important consideration is this: do we believe effective prayer chiefly depends upon us, or God?
In his farewell discourse, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” On the basis of this verse, some have developed a kind of Simon Says theology of prayer: God promises automatic delivery, but only if you say Jesus’ name. Others have developed more of a Word of Faith view: if you say Jesus’ name with enough faith in your heart, then you may be assured that God will answer your prayer. The trouble with these and other approaches like them is the notion that prayer depends chiefly upon what we say, or how we feel when we say it. Praying in this way takes God’s name in vain, because it treats his name as a kind of talisman, rather than attributing power to God himself.
Prayer in Jesus’ Name is not chiefly about what we do or how we do it. It’s a confession of faith in what Jesus has done. We come to God on the basis of Jesus’ heroism rather than our own. Apart from Christ, we were outcasts without any hope, without any access to the Father in Heaven. By virtue of the cross of Christ, our sins are forgiven, we are reconciled to God, and we enjoy adoption into his family. God grants us access because of Christ’s heroism on Good Friday, and his ever-present intercession on our behalf. Imagine Bill Gates ringing you and saying, “I didn’t know you before, but I know your friend, who is here with me now. Because of him I now love you as if you were my very own child. By the way, do you need anything?” We have access to God in the same way through Jesus our Savior and Lord.
Prayer in Jesus’ name, then, is a way of approaching God through Christ. It’s not a formula or incantation, but a shorthand way of affirming a living, vibrant relationship with the Lord.
Today in prayer, begin with the Collect of the Day (below). Then take some time to commit your heart and life to Jesus, who was crucified in your place so that you might be reconciled to Almighty God. Then tell God what you really need, in Jesus’ name, and finish with the Lord’s Prayer.
The Collect of the Day. Almighty God, you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: guard us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.