In the Name of Jesus?

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

That is the question some co-workers and I are discussing right now. It started when I was recounting a story involving my oldest son. We were saying our prayers one evening and I ended by saying simply, "Amen." My son corrected me saying, "No daddy. In Jesus name, Amen."

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I told my friends that I didn't think it would make sense to try and explain to a three-year old that the words, "in Jesus name" were not some kind of magic phrase like "Abracadabra" that you say to make your prayers come true, so I just said, "You're right. In Jesus name, Amen."

Well, that got some interesting responses from a couple of my friends. They argued that we need to end our prayers with "in Jesus name" and that we are instructed to do so in the Bible. I agreed that we are instructed to pray in the name of Jesus in the Bible, but that what that means is not simply to tack on those words at the end of the prayer. Instead, I thought it meant to pray according to the will of Jesus. In other words, I can pray in the name of Jesus without including the words, "in the name of Jesus" at the end of my prayer just as someone can conclude their prayer, "in the name of Jesus" and still not be praying in the name of Jesus.

They didn't buy it.

Now let me clarify that I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with including those words at the end of your prayer. Quite the contrary, that is where my son learned it because he has heard me and my wife say it so often. I simply don't think that you have to include it, nor do I think that is what is meant by the instruction.

I am working on researching this in the Bible now to see if I am right or wrong. I'll post on what I find later. Peace.