Praying "In Jesus' Name"

We often conclude our prayers with the phrase “in the name of Jesus, Amen.” The phrase falls easily from our lips; like a magic formula, we utter it without much thought as to its meaning. We say it because we have heard other Christians say it at the end of their prayers; we are such creatures of the herd. But the phrase is pregnant with meaning. We should use it not only because Jesus instructed us to ask in “his name”— the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (Jn. 15:16)—but because of the various implications of the phrase.

First, it means that whatever we are asking for is not for us but for our Master. Right before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem he sent his disciples out to get him a colt to ride on, telling them, “Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it." (Mk. 11:2-3). The disciples were sent in Jesus’ name to get what “the Lord needs.” That certainly puts a qualifier on our prayers and helps us reflect on what we are praying for. Is what I am praying for to meet some selfish desire or is it something the Lord needs? Am I asking for myself or so that Jesus may be exalted and praised? When I end my prayer with “in Jesus name,” I am really saying that whatever I am asking for is because the Lord needs it so that he may be glorified. Glorifying Christ should be the ultimate aim of all our prayers.

Secondly, saying “in Jesus name” means that I am not going before God the Father on my own merits for I have nothing to commend me. There is no reason why God should be attentive to my prayers since in comparison to the vastness of the universe God has to attend to, my concerns are but petty nuisances. But Jesus loves me so much that he made my petty concerns his own and sends me before the Father with the full weight of his authority and majesty backing me. Now that’s clout.

But thirdly, and finally, the phrase “in Jesus name” at the end of my prayers is an acknowledgment of my surrender, that I am not my own, that I am now the servant and Jesus is my Master and my King. Kings would often send ambassadors to other rulers with some token or seal that identified them as emissaries and authorized them to speak and deal on behalf of their king. To the extent that they were ambassadors, they in essence belonged to the king and were the king’s servants; loyalty and obedience was to be expected. When I say, therefore, “in Jesus’ name” I am introducing myself in prayer to the Father as an obedient and loyal servant of Jesus Christ. Can I say this at the end of my prayers with full integrity? Am I really an obedient and loyal servant of Jesus Christ?

So there is nothing magical about the phrase. If anything, it reminds us to take stock of our relationship with Jesus and what it is we are requesting in our prayers, but it also gives us the assurance that our prayers will always be heard.