Why Do We Pray in Jesus’ Name?

Jesus teaches his disciples to pray in his name in the Gospel of John as part of his farewell discourse, a series of teachings given to his disciples the night before his crucifixion.

The specific passages where Jesus teaches to pray in his name are found in John 14:13-14, John 15:16, and John 16:23-24. In John 14:13-14, Jesus says, “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.” Here, Jesus assures the disciples that their prayers, offered in his name, will be answered to bring glory to the Father through the Son. This teaching underscores the authority and mediatory role of Jesus in the relationship between believers and God.

In John 15:16, Jesus reiterates the importance of asking in his name: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” This verse is part of the larger teaching about the vine and the branches (John 15:1-17), where Jesus emphasizes the necessity of abiding in him to bear fruit. Praying in Jesus’ name connects to this abiding relationship, highlighting that effective prayer stems from a deep, ongoing connection with Christ.

Following this, in John 16:23-24, Jesus further explains, “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” Here, Jesus prepares his disciples for the time after his resurrection and ascension, when they will pray directly to the Father in his name. This promise is intended to give them confidence and assurance in their prayers.

Before these teachings, Jesus had been preparing his disciples for his imminent departure. In John 14:1-3, he comforts them with his promised return and the prepared place for them in his Father’s house. He also promises the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who will teach them and remind them of everything he has said (John 14:26). These promises set the stage for the disciples to understand the new dynamic of their relationship with God through Jesus.

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Jesus’ teaching to pray in his name represents a significant shift from the Old Testament practices, reflecting a deeper and more personal relationship with God.

In the Old Testament, prayer was often characterized by formal petitions and was mediated through priests or prophets. The Israelites approached God with a sense of reverence and distance, often offering sacrifices and following specific rituals to communicate with him. For instance, in Leviticus, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16). This practice highlighted the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity.

In contrast, Jesus introduced a new paradigm for prayer that emphasized direct and personal communication with God. His teaching underscores the authority given to believers to approach God directly through Jesus, bypassing the need for earthly mediators.

Furthermore, Jesus’ teaching on addressing God as “Father” represents a radical shift from the Old Testament perspective. In the Old Testament, God is often referred to with titles that emphasize his majesty and sovereignty, such as “Yahweh” (LORD) and “Elohim” (God). While there are instances of God being described as a Father to Israel (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:6, Isaiah 63:16), the personal and intimate use of “Father” in prayer was not as prevalent.

Jesus revolutionizes this approach in the New Testament. In the Lord’s Prayer, he instructs his disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9). This invocation of God as “Father” reflects a close, familial relationship uncommon in Jewish prayers of the time. It signifies an intimate connection with God, akin to a child’s relationship with a loving parent. This approach encourages believers to come before God with confidence and trust, knowing they are approaching a compassionate and caring Father.

Jesus reinforces the idea of God’s fatherly love and responsiveness in passages such as Matthew 7:9-11: “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” This teaching highlights God’s willingness to provide for his children and underscores the personal and relational aspect of prayer.

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In the cultural context of Jesus’ time, doing something in someone’s name meant acting with their authority and on their behalf. This concept is seen in legal and official capacities where representatives or messengers carried out actions in the name of a higher authority. For instance, when a Roman centurion sent messengers in his name, they acted with his full authority (Matthew 8:5-13). Those messengers wouldn’t have a will of their own, but understood their master’s desire and purpose and acted within that mission. Similarly, praying in Jesus’ name means approaching God with the full authority and endorsement of Jesus, representing his will and purposes.

To pray in Jesus’ name means to approach God the Father with the authority and righteousness of Jesus himself. The Father will be glorified in the Son, and Jesus addresses this in relation to praying in his name (John 14:13-14). This instruction highlights that praying in Jesus’ name invokes his authority and aligns our requests with his will and character.

Jesus’ role as High Priest is central to understanding the significance of praying in his name. In the Old Testament, the high priest acted as an intermediary between God and the people, offering sacrifices and prayers on their behalf. Hebrews 4:14-16 describes Jesus as the ultimate High Priest who has passed through the heavens and sympathizes with our weaknesses. Because of his sacrificial death and resurrection, believers can now “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Jesus’ high priesthood means that he continually intercedes for us, making our prayers acceptable to God.

As the Son of God, Jesus has a unique relationship with the Father, granting him unparalleled authority. In John 5:19-23, Jesus explains that the Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Praying in Jesus’ name, therefore, means recognizing and appealing to his divine authority and relationship with the Father. It acknowledges that Jesus, being one with the Father, has the power to answer prayers and act on our behalf.

The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within believers also plays a crucial role. The Holy Spirit helps believers pray according to God’s will, as seen in Romans 8:26-27: “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.” The Spirit’s presence ensures that prayers offered in Jesus’ name are aligned with God’s purposes and are empowered by divine guidance.

Through the Spirit, our lives exist within Christ at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:3). The New Testament mentions how we are “in Christ” more than 75 times. We identify with the Son in nature and purpose in our prayers.

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Praying in Jesus’ name teaches us to pray with confidence. Jesus encourages us to approach God boldly, trusting that our prayers are heard and will be answered according to his will. Because of the Father’s love for us, and knowing the finished work of Christ, we come before God under the authority and righteousness of Jesus.

Second, praying in Jesus’ name emphasizes the importance of aligning our prayers with God’s will (John 15:7). This connection between abiding in Christ and effective prayer highlights the necessity of aligning our desires and requests with His teachings and purposes. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are not merely adding a formulaic phrase to our prayers but seeking to pray in harmony with his character and will. This alignment is further supported by 1 John 5:14-15, which says, “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.” This assurance comes from God’s absolute ability to fulfill his own will, a finished work in Jesus. We know his will through studying the Scripture and listening to his voice. These disciplines empower and inform our prayers.

Third, praying in Jesus’ name underscores our reliance on his authority and intercession. As our High Priest, Jesus mediates between us and God, making our prayers acceptable (Hebrews 7:25). This teaching highlights the shift from the old covenant, where priests interceded on behalf of the people, to the new covenant, where Jesus himself intercedes for us. Understanding Jesus’ role as our mediator encourages us to rely on his authority and ongoing intercession in our prayers.

Not only do we rely upon his intercession, as his followers, we learn we have the same role. The New Testament calls us a kingdom and priests (Revelation 1:5-6). As Jesus intercedes for us, we intercede for others and the world.

Furthermore, praying in Jesus’ name fosters a deeper relationship with God, characterized by intimacy and trust. Coming before the Father teaches us what it means to be sons and daughters of the King. Jesus teaches his disciples to address God as “Father,” emphasizing the personal family nature of our relationship with him (Matthew 6:9). This approach encourages us to come before God with the confidence of children approaching a loving parent, trusting in his care and provision.

By praying in Jesus’ name, we recognize our dependence on him and seek to align our lives and desires with his purposes, confident that our prayers are heard and will be answered according to his perfect and complete will.

Peace.

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