What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? In Old Testament times, prayer was offered only in the context of sacrifice. God’s people brought an offering when they came into his presence: it cost them something to draw near to God. As they called on his name, they offered him not only their visible sacrifices, but with it, the sacrifice of their hearts and lives and wills. When Jesus lived on earth, he took part in the services of the synagogue and prayer according to the Old Testament pattern. Underlying all his recorded private prayers we see the Old Testament principle of sacrifice, as we see this pattern repeated throughout the prayers of the New Testament. If we want to pray the kind of prayers that he can hear and answer, we too must pray in the spirit of sacrifice. What does this mean for us?
Jesus taught his followers to pray to the Father in his name. In biblical usage, the name of God is synonymous with his person and being. God’s people came to know God’s nature in his names; God’s character and God’s name are one. If we are to pray in Jesus’ name, then we must pray in his character – pray as he prayed. Jesus’ prayers focused on the Father’s will rather than his own desires. If we would pray as he prayed, we, too, must submit ourselves to God. It is not in the nature of fallen men and women to pray so selflessly. Indeed, unless God takes the initiative, it is not in our nature to pray at all. By nature we turn each one to our own way, not God’s. If we pray, it is because God has touched us and turned our wayward spirit towards himself. But God has taken this initiative. He has not merely commanded us to pray, he has made it possible for us to pray. He has put his Spirit within us, the spirit that makes us his sons and daughters, and enables us to look up to him in love and trust and cry, ‘Abba, Father!’ (Romans 8:15).
We must pray in Jesus’ name. We must offer our own desires to God in spiritual sacrifice. God could have chosen to run his universe without involved himself in the prayers of his people or engaging them in his purposes, but that has not been his choice. Rather, he has appointed our prayers to be the lever that releases his power and enables him to keep his promises to us and to accomplish his will for us and in us.
In his sovereignty and grace he has invited – even commanded us to come to him in prayer. He has given us his Spirit to teach us to pray, and to pray in us and for us and with us. Ceaselessly he listens to the intercessions that our great high priest is making before his throne on our behalf. And to this holy stream of prayer he bids his children add the feeble trickle of our own petition, urging us to come boldly before him to obtain mercy for our weaknesses and find grace to help in our time of need. He asks only that we pray in Jesus’ name.
As we come to God in Jesus’ name, praying as he prayed, our wills in submission to his, God lets us place our puny hands on his great purposes – purposes too lofty for our finite minds to comprehend – and participate in carrying out his plan.
(Margaret Clarkson, Destined for Glory, pp.109-111)
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