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In Jesus Name

By Joe Rice & Robert Lair

There are unbeknown tendencies out there among Christians that bind Jesus up as a Genie in a bottle by believing they can use His name to get whatever they ask for in prayer. We know what you’re thinking, Jesus himself said, “Whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give you” (John 14:13; John 15:7, 16; John 16:23-24). We could find ourselves getting pretty excited by the strong matter of fact wording of these verses. We could get excited if we simply stopped there, but we need to view Jesus’ words in the context of his original discourse with his disciples. The entire context of this single discourse occurred on the night Jesus was betrayed, the very night He established the New Covenant in the upper room, and we encourage you to take the time to read it for yourself in its entirety (John 13:1- 17:26).

Did you notice the context of Jesus’ words? There they were in the upper room and Jesus just got done washing their feet as He begins to inform them about His departure; they get a little upset but Jesus assures them they know the way to the Father where He will be residing (John 14:6). They asked Jesus to show them the Father and Jesus simply responded, “I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me” (John 14:11). Jesus made it clear, and on other accounts, that He was in submission to the Father. In the same breath Jesus declared to the disciples that if they ask anything in His name, He will do it (John 14:14). Do you see the connection? Jesus said He only does what the Father does (John 5:19) and now He will do whatever we ask in His name…according to the will of the Father.  

Think this is a little stretch? If we continue to read this discourse we’ll see Jesus talking about the disciples about being united with Him; “I am the Vine you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in Him, will bear much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). He continues to talk to them about abiding in Him, loving Him, and obeying Him while informing them that He had chosen them to go and bear the fruits of the Spirit and that if they ask anything in His name He will do it. Did you notice the context of being in submission to the Lord Jesus as He is in submission to the Father? There is a definite pattern here.  

So what does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? Joe had noted from his study that our trusty Strong’s Concordance described the basis of Jesus’ name as being found in His character and authority. Good point! Robert also noted from a well trusted resource that Christians using the name of Jesus are praying according to the will of God (New International Dictionary of NT Theology). Of course this brings on an entirely different topic about the will of God, but it does not change the way we ought to be using the name of Jesus in our prayers; in the character, will, and authority of Jesus Christ. Did you notice that it is not in our character or will, but in HIS?!  

These chapters are some of the most important chapters for us as we live out our Christian lives. Christ showed us the way He expects us to live out our faith: in complete submission to the Father. All of the verses about praying “in Jesus Name” paint a very different picture of Jesus’ intentions when they are read in proper context. He told us to serve each other, to love one another, to come to the Father through Him, and to always seek the will of the Father.  Christ could have walked away. He could have skipped town never to be seen again, but He did not. He lived out the perfect example as He was wholly submissive to the Father.