John 14:13,14 says, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” What does “in Jesus’ name” mean to you?
Often, Christians offer apathetic (feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern) prayers, which are the opposite of fervent prayers, and then end with, “in Jesus’ name I pray.” The “in Jesus’ name” is a common phrase generally accepted as an end to prayer. It may be from habit, repetition, or even believing the “in Jesus’ name” is almost a magic formula to receive an answer to prayer. We may not have realized the privilege, responsibility, and depth to praying in Jesus’ name.
Matthew Henry writes concerning Jesus and John 14:13,14, “… for he has not only the interest of an intercessor, but the power of a sovereign prince, who sits at the right hand of God, the hand of action, and has the doing of all in the kingdom of God. By faith in his name…” Praying in Jesus’ name is based on faith and focused on God’s glory.
“Christ’s name is the revelation of Christ’s character, and to do a thing in the name of another person is to do it as His representative, and as realizing that in some deep and real sense-for the present purpose at all events-we are one with Him. And it is when we know ourselves to be united to Christ and one with Him, and representative in a true fashion of Himself, as well as when, in humble reliance on His work for us and His loving heart, we draw near, that our prayer has power, as the old divines used to say, ‘to move the Hand that moves the world,’ and to bring down a rush of blessing upon our heads. Prayer in the name of Christ is hard to offer. It needs much discipline and watchfulness; it excludes all self-will and selfishness. And if, as my text tells us, the end of the Son’s working is the glory of the Father, that same end, and not our own ease or comfort, must be the end and object of all prayer which is offered in His name. When we so pray we get an answer. And the reason why such multitudes of prayers never travel higher than the roof, and bring no blessings to him who prays, is because they are not prayers in Christ’s name.” ~Alexander Maclaren
(By Josh Wilcox)
