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“On that day, you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.”  John 16:26-27

What is it to “ask in Jesus’ name”? Do we use it as a tack-on at the end of our prayers like magic words sure to elevate our requests? Are we imagining Jesus standing between us and the Father, catching our requests, filtering them, and then giving God the Father only the prayers that pass His muster? Maybe we think our prayers “don’t really count” without praying in His name. So, what does Jesus mean when He tells His disciples (and us) to ask in His name?

In reading John’s gospel, through chapters 15 and 16, it’s like multiple one-two punches to the gut. Jesus very directly—and undeniably—tells His disciples about His identity as God and His relationship with the Father, His love for them (and us), how they need to love each other, and how the world will hate them (and us) because of Jesus. He also promises the Holy Spirit to empower them (and us) for this love, endurance, and truth-knowing. And even though His disciples will not really grasp His clear forecast, Jesus tells them of His imminent death and resurrection. All of these spiritual lessons set the stage for His prayer promises for His followers.

Jesus says, “Truly, truly I say to you, if you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you” (John 16:23). And again in verses 26-27, “On that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.”

Beloved, we can hardly grasp the astonishing glory of this! No longer do followers of God need to bring sacrifices to the temple—Jesus made the last sacrifice on our behalf, taking on the punishment and wrath we deserve. Because of what Jesus has accomplished, He made a way for us to go directly to the Throne room of God with our needs and requests (Hebrews 4:16). Jesus is indeed our intercessor, our High Priest, and the reason why we can go to the Father…but He is also clear in these verses that because of His death and resurrection, the chasm between humanity and the Father has been bridged! “The Father Himself loves you (and me) because (we) have loved (Jesus)!” Amazing!

What does it mean to pray in the precious name of Jesus? First, we’re able to come to God on the basis of His merit—not our own. No bloody lambs or doves to make an acceptable aroma. The blood of Jesus now and forever suffices. Also, despite the chasm between God and Man, forged shortly after Creation by our first parents, Adam and Eve, perfect reconciliation has been accomplished through the righteousness of Jesus—nothing we could ever earn or achieve. We’re able to go to God only because of (the name of) Jesus. Finally, by praying in the name of Jesus, we are also asking for the perfect will of God. In other words, we ask for what would honor and glorify Jesus. This must frame every request—as it did for Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Think about it this way, when you make a donation “in honor of” someone, you’re donating “in his/her name” to lift up that person. So, to pray “in Jesus’ name” is to pray “in honor of” our Lord…which logically begs us to assess our prayers with our own spiritual filter: Does this prayer, if answered the way we want, honor Jesus? And do we grasp that, however, God answers us, even if it’s not what we thought best, that every answer in His will is for our best—and His glory?

“Lord, thank You for making a way of reconciliation with God the Father. Thank You for being our High Priest and Intercessor…and also that we get to stand in the very presence of our Father because You made a way.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life