What Happens When We Pray ‘In Jesus’ Name’

When Jesus made the statement, he and his disciples were sharing a Passover meal—the one that would be Jesus’ last. Jesus had just finished washing the disciples' feet, teaching them to be willing to serve each other and others in the same way. 

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." - John 13:14-17

Right on the heels of the washing of feet, Jesus stunned them all – predicting his betrayal, resulting in Judas leaving the gathering. Then, Jesus broke their hearts, telling them all that he would be leaving them soon and they would not be able to follow – leading to his prediction of Peter’s denial. Jesus then went about trying to bring comfort to his disciples, promising he would eventually come back and take them with him, and they would know the way there. (John 14:3-4)  Then, when questioned by Thomas, Jesus said:

 ^"If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” - John 14:7

Upon further questioning by Philip, Jesus went on to explain a critical lesson:  seeing him, the disciples were seeing the Father; knowing Jesus, they knew the Father; that it was the Father living in Jesus who was doing the work. (v 14:9-10). Then this:

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." - v. 12-14

Jesus then went on to teach them, “If you love me, keep my commands,”  – as well as the promise of the Spirit of Truth, who would be with them forever. (v. 15-16)

Like so many other verses, we tend to cherry-pick a verse and apply that to our lives. “You may ask anything in my name, and I’ll do it,” so we do, leading to selfish prayers. However, it is critical to take this entire lesson in the context of Jesus teaching the disciples to serve each other, to obey his commands, and to do the works Jesus did—not just the miracles but the love he showed through his life and coming death. 

Asking “in Jesus’ name” is clearly so much more than a tagline any time we pray.

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." - James 4:3

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To do something in someone else’s name has a pretty distinctive legal meaning today. It wasn’t much different in Hebrew, Greek, or Roman law, either. If we do something in someone else’s name, that means the results of our actions rightly belong to the one for whom we act. 

• Police stop people “in the name of the law,” – meaning they have been given the legal authority to stop and arrest that person for breaking the law. As a private citizen, of course, we have no such authority. 
• If we choose to send a gift or donation in someone else’s name – that person gets the credit for the gift as if they themselves had made the donation. The credit belongs to them – not to us.
• In legal terms, someone possessing a power of attorney (POA) for another can act in that person’s name – whether financial, medical or some other limited POA. This is often used in real estate to close a purchase as POA for another who is absent – meaning, they are purchasing the property, and it will be in their name, not another.
• An ambassador to another country acts in the name of a government because they have been appointed to do so. However, that ambassador knows that his or her actions must reflect the will and desires of the governmental leaders that appointed him. 
• If you appoint someone to act in your name, that person can act as your agent – but with restrictions that you impose. You appoint that person because you trust them to act in a manner that is consistent with your good name and character.

Jesus empowered his disciples to act and ask in his name in keeping with his character and his will to live as his disciples. In continuing his ministry here on earth, he preaches the gospel message, feeds the hungry, and helps those in need and the hurting. In other words, to love each other and others – in his mighty name.

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Praying in Jesus’ name means praying for what will honor and glorify Jesus. Praying in Jesus’s name is an amazingly robust and powerful force. Here are eight reasons why.

1. Access Only Through Jesus

Without a relationship with Jesus, without fully giving ourselves to him, we have nothing. We have no access to the Father. Yet, the moment we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, repent of our sins, and give our lives to him, everything changes. Who and what we are change. We receive the Holy Spirit, who begins to change us from the inside out. Only then can we truly pray in Jesus’ name and understand its real meaning.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6

2. A Reflection of Our Salvation

Praying in Jesus’ name, we affirm our faith in him, we confirm our trust in his word, and we strengthen our faith in His saving grace and the redemption he provides for all of us who choose the narrow gate. And we reinforce looking to our hope of eternal life with him. 

 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” - Matthew 7:13-14

3. Reaffirm Our Unity With God 

Praying in Jesus’ name signifies our union with him. It’s like a child who carries the family name and thus is a reflection of unity with his or her father. So, do we become children of God?

"He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." - John 1:11-13

4. Authority and Power

Praying in Jesus’ name recognizes and invokes his authority and his power. That is a power we cannot begin to fathom or understand. It is a power that defeated death once and for all and raised Jesus from the dead. Through that power, the world and all life was created. 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21

5. Aligning Our Prayers with God’s Will

So often, we don’t know exactly what to pray for. Or we pray for our will to be done rather than the Lord’s will to be done in our lives. Yet, like any good Father, he knows what is best for us. He knows what the future holds for us and will answer our prayers according to his will.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." - Romans 8:26-27

6. Confidence in God’s Promises

Assurance of answered prayers might be one of the most difficult to believe and have faith in, as it seems so often our prayers are unanswered. It seems that Jesus’ own prayers in the garden were unanswered – except that Jesus’ first choice was that God’s will be done. His prayer was, “If it is possible, yet not my will but your will be done.” (Matthew 26:39) 

God has made many promises, not the least of which is that he will never leave us or forsake us—meaning he will always be with us, always hear our prayers, and always do what is best for us.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." - 1 John 5:14-15

7. Acknowledging Our Need for Jesus

It is only through Jesus that we find strength and guidance. In Him, we find peace and joy beyond comprehension or understanding. Apart from him, we can do nothing. He has given us his Spirit to be with us, guide us, and help us resist temptation. Jesus promised he would be with us always.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20

8. Gratitude and Remembrance

Praying in Jesus’ name is the ultimate act of worship. It honors his sacrifice for us and reminds us of the salvation we have through him. 

Samaritan’s Purse, the international relief organization, has a mission of “Helping in Jesus’ Name.” We honor Jesus and express our gratitude when we love others as he loved them, when we love others in his name, just as we pray in his name.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” - John 13:34-3

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Praying in Jesus’ name is no magical formula. It is a recognition of his role in our lives and what he has done for us. Perhaps this was much easier for the disciples to grasp as they were eyewitnesses to the miracles - they saw him feed the 5,000, saw him walk on water, saw him raise Lazarus, and so much more. But somehow, I don’t think so. Peter still denied him. Thomas still doubted. After three years of being side by side with the Messiah, they still struggled to believe it. 

No, it was only after the Holy Spirit came upon them that they realized what they had been witness to. The power they had inside them - the power of Jesus Christ. It was only then that they realized what he meant when he told them to pray in his name and that he would do whatever they asked. 

Perhaps we should learn from the disciples as we begin to realize the full extent of what it means to pray in Jesus’ name.

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." - John 14:13-14

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