Praying in Jesus' name

In John's gospel, Jesus told his disciples that they should pray 'in his name' to the Father, who would answer their prayers because he loved them (John 16:23-27). But what does it mean to pray 'in the name of Jesus'? It's obviously more than a slogan tagged on to the end of our prayers, but what is meant by 'the name of Jesus'?

The phrase 'in the name of Jesus' is used in several ways in the New Testament. The first describes things done 'in the name of Jesus' in the sense of doing them under his authority, on his behalf. So we find the disciples casting out demons (Luke 10:17), teaching and speaking (Acts 4:18), healing (Acts 3:6), and preaching (Acts 9:28) in Jesus name. In this they emulated Jesus, whose earthly ministry was carried out in the name of, and under the authority of, his Father (John 10:25).

The second sense in which 'the name of Jesus' is used involves bringing glory to him, acknowledging his worth (Acts 9:15, Rom 1:4-6, 2 Thess 1:11-12 ). Again, this reminds us of Jesus who always sought to bring glory to the name of his Father (John 17:26)

A third use of Jesus' name involves a sense of belonging to Jesus. Christians are those who gather in Jesus' name (Matt 18:20), who are baptised in his name (Matt 28:19), who are reviled and persecuted for his name's sake (Acts 5:41, Rev, 2:3), and who figuratively bear his name on their foreheads (Rev 22:4).

The fourth sense in which 'the name of Jesus' is used relates to the way in which Christians appropriate to themselves the work of Jesus in his death and resurrection. They believe in his name (John 2:23), hope in his name (Matt 12:21), avoid condemnation (John 3:18), receive forgiveness (Acts 10:43) and salvation (Acts 4:12) in his name. They are washed, sanctified and justified in his name (1 Cor 6:11) The Holy Spirit is sent in the name of Jesus (John 14:26).

When it comes to praying 'in Jesus name', I think all of these meanings of the phrase are involved. We pray, not as helpless, powerless, isolated individuals, but as those who carry the authority of the one who has 'the name above every rule, authority, power and dominion' (Eph 1:20-21). We are his agents, doing his work on his behalf and in his strength. We come to the Father to ask for what we need to do his will. (Of course, in order to do this, we need to know first what it is that he wants us to do.) We pray 'in his name' when we seek to bring him glory and honour.

We pray in his name because we belong to him. We are those who have been adopted as children of God, and are co-heirs with Christ. But we are only in that position because of what Jesus has done for us, in winning our salvation.

So to pray in Jesus name means that we have thought through what we are praying to see if it is glorifying to Jesus and according to God's will. And having done that we come with confidence to our Father because we belong to his Son, whose name he loves to glorify.