In the Name of Jesus, part 2

What does it mean to pray, "in the name of Jesus?"

Let me begin by saying that the Bible clearly instructs us to pray in the name of Jesus (John 14:13, 16:23-26, Eph 5:20, Col 3:17, Heb 13:15), so I am not arguing that point. What I am questioning is what it means to pray in the name of Jesus.

Continue reading "In the Name of Jesus, part 2"

Does it mean to simply say the words, "in the name of Jesus" at the end of our prayers? I don't think so. Although I don't think there is anything wrong with saying those words at the end of your prayer, I think the instruction to pray in the name of Jesus means something different.

In the Bible the names of God and the names of Jesus are more than just titles, they are clues about who God is and what He is like. They are glimpses into His nature. Whereas "Scott" only tells you the noise to make to get my attention, the names of Jesus tell us about who he is and what he is like. The names of Jesus include, the Alpha and the Omega (Rev 1:8), the Bright and Morning Star (Rev 22:16), the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), Emmanuel (Isa 7:14), Wonderful Counselor (Isa 9:6), Mighty God (Isa 9:6), Everlasting Father (Isa 9:6), Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6), Faithful and True (Rev 19:11), the Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69), the great I AM (John 8:58), King of the Jews (John 19:19), King of Israel (John 1:49), King of Saints (Rev 15:3), King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Tim 6:15, Rev 17:14), King of Glory (Psalm 24:7-10), King of Zion (Matt 21:5), Lamb of God (John 1:29), Light of the World (John 8:12), Living Bread (John 6:51), the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5), the Root of David (Rev 5:5, 22:16), the Root of Jesse (Isa 11:10), the Son of God (Matt 14:33), the Son of Man (Matt 16:27,28), the Son of David (Matt 9:27), the True Vine (John 15:1) and the Word of God (John 1:1, Rev 19:13).

These names speak of His humanity, His divinity, His eternality, His power, His glory, His love and protection for us, His goodness, His mercy, and His role as the promised Messiah. His names tell us, in part, who He is.

When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, instructing him to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let His people go, Moses was worried that Pharaoh and the Israelites would not believe him. He asks:

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ (Ex. 3:13, 14)

Moses asks God his name and God's reply is with a name that tells of his divine and sovereign nature. He is completely self-existent and eternal. He is.

Therefore, when the Bible tells us to believe in the name of Jesus (John 1:12), does it makes sense that we are to believe in the actual name? Is there some kind of saving power in the combination of those five letters? Of course not. It means to trust in who He is and what He has done on our behalf.

And exactly how is someone to be baptised in a name (Acts 2:38) or act in a name (Col 3:17) if what is meant by name is the sound? What these instructions mean is to be associated with the family of God by the power and work of what Jesus Christ has done for us. It means to identify ourselves with Him. It means to act according to the will and nature of Jesus Christ; to act on His behalf, as His ambassador.

Returning to our original question: what does it mean to pray, "in the name of Jesus?" It means to pray according to the will and nature of Jesus. It means to ask for and want the things that Jesus wants. And, that doesn't require saying the words, "in the name of Jesus" at the end of your prayer.