“In Jesus’ Name”

IN JESUS’ NAME

Recently, I was leading a small group in a time of Bible study. Before our time began, I asked if anyone in the group wanted to lead us in a time of prayer.

When no one immediately jumped at the opportunity, a new believer in the group hesitantly raised her hand and offered to pray for us. She seemed somewhat unsure of herself, as if she wasn’t sure if she could handle the task for which she had just volunteered herself. Finally, she admitted, “I’m sorry if I don’t do this right. I’ve actually never prayed out loud in a group before.”

I encouraged her not to feel any pressure and assured her that she was in safe company. She proceeded to pray. And aside from some uncertainty in her voice, nothing in the prayer would have indicated that she was praying aloud for the first time in a group setting.

It really was an interesting phenomenon to watch unfold. Much like a young child is able to observe and imitate his or her parents, so also new believers observe and imitate those who have been in the faith for longer periods of time. Perhaps more noticeable than anything is the “Christian-ese” that new believers so quickly learn to speak.

Part of the “Christian-ese” language that is so apparent for those in the church is the sign-on and sign-off phrases of Christian prayer.

New believers quickly become accustomed to beginning prayer with the phrase “Our heavenly Father” and culminating with “In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

But what do these phrases mean in association with prayer? Are they some sort of magical formula that must be uttered for our prayers to be heard and answered? Is there some special authority in claiming that a prayer is uttered in Jesus’ name? Do Christians understand what they are saying when they speak these words, or is it simply “Christian-ese” that sounds good and right?

To understand the traditional liturgy of addressing prayer to the Father and closing prayer in Jesus’ name, one must first recognize the Trinitarian nature of prayer itself. Christian prayer is firmly rooted in the doctrine of the Trinity. As such, it is prayer to the Father, in the name and by the authority of the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

TO THE FATHER
Prayer is rightly addressed to God the Father. Jesus, when teaching his disciples to pray, addressed the Father in heaven (Matthew 6:9) and later exemplified this in his high priestly prayer (John 17). To pray to the Father in heaven is to recognize that he is the rightful recipient of our praise and petitions, the one from Whom every perfect gift comes (James 1:17).

THROUGH THE SON
Prayer is rightly presented in the name of Jesus, who says anything asked to the Father in his name will be done (John 14:13–14). Through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus offers reconciliation between us and the Father. He allows us to come to the throne of grace with confidence because of his role as the great high priest (Hebrews 4:14–16). Serving as the one mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), Jesus grants us access to the Father in prayer as he mediates on our behalf.

Praying in Jesus’ name, then, is of utmost theological significance. It is not just some throwaway phrase at the end of a prayer or the way that you disconnect from a conversation with God. Rather, these words express something significant and essential. We have no access to the Father without the mediating work of Christ. So to pray in Jesus’ name is to assert that we are not coming to the Father on our own authority, in our own name, or in our own merit. It is to assert that we are able to come before the throne of grace because of the sacrificial love and intercession of the Savior.

IN THE SPIRIT
Prayer is also rightly uttered in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 1:20). We often do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26–27). Prayer in the Spirit is characterized by a freedom of utterance and liberty of expression that goes beyond our natural ability. The Spirit illuminates our minds, moves our hearts, and gives us the right words to say.

Prayer is not merely some formulaic ritual that begins with “Our Father” and ends with “in Jesus’ name.” Rather, rightly considered, prayer recognizes the roles that each Person of the Triune God plays. And it includes an intricate beauty of the inner workings of the Trinity.

As we pray to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit, we are reminded of the authority of the Father and the sanctifying work of the Spirit.

And perhaps most of all, we are reminded what deep, theological riches are found in those seemingly simple words, “in Jesus’ name.”