Many of the prayers that we say end with the phrase “in Jesus Name.” We place that on the end of prayers, whether prayers at church or ones we say at home, but do we know what it really signifies? Do we know what it means, and what it doesn’t mean?” Our Gospel reading from the Bible today speaks of asking things in Jesus’ Name. Let’s look into that, and what that phrase means.
This Scripture passage is part of the teaching that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples on the night before He was crucified. Moments earlier He had told the disciples how He was going to prepare a place for them, and that He was the way, the truth and the life. Jesus told them how He and the Father are one (John 14:1-11). Now He was instructing them in one point about prayer, and how the Father is glorified by answering prayer asked in Jesus’ Name.
As mentioned above, so many of our prayers end with the phrase “in Jesus Name”, and here Jesus tells us twice that if we ask anything in His Name, He will do it (vs. 13-14). What a great promise! But lest we think that we have been given something like Aladdin’s magic lamp, we need to see what Jesus was talking about, what He meant. “In Jesus Name” is not a magic charm. These verses do not mean that any request ending with those words will automatically be fulfilled. For the Lord to hear and answer prayer, we must first be saved through Jesus Christ. Once saved, God will hear us only when we walk in righteousness before Him. If we knowingly continue to sin, and do not repent, God will not listen (Psalm 66:18).
By saying “in Jesus Name” we cannot force God to do anything. Our prayers must be consistent with Jesus’ character. He won’t grant a prayer that will hurt us or others, or derail His purpose. We need to check our motives. Will our prayer glorify God? Will it let others see Him? Are our prayers selfish, greedy, or impure?
When Jesus said to pray in His Name, it could also be said that we would be asking as His agent. Sometimes a boss gives a trusted employee authority to do something in the boss's name. The promise of answered prayer is based on the disciple’s acting as the agent of Jesus’ will. Our prayer should be for God’s purposes and kingdom, and not for our own selfish reasons. It should be on the merits of Jesus, and not any supposed personal merit or worthiness. Our prayer in Jesus Name should be in pursuit of God’s glory alone.
The glorified Christ is now seated at God’s right hand. He is our Great High Priest. He tells us to come and ask for what we need (Hebrews 7:25). As believers, we have the right to use His Name But to use the Savior’s Name, we must agree with God’s purposes. We must ask in agreement with His character, and our priority must be to obey Him and His will, not our own.
The Name of Jesus is not just any old name. The Name of Jesus is the only Name that saves. It is the only Name that brings God’s Good News. The Name of Jesus forgives, heals, and casts out demons. His Name validates prayer. The Name of Jesus reigns supreme!
Jesus has promised to give us the Holy Spirit, “another Helper” to be with us always (vs. 16-17). The Holy Spirit is Someone like Himself, who will take His place and do His work. He is the Comforter, an Advocate, Someone called alongside for aid in the time of trouble. Jesus has promised to give us everything we need to make it to the end. We have His continued aid through the power of the Spirit, who lives inside every believer. We are never alone, as the Holy Spirit will be with us forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment