Jesus' Name
Jesus' Name: The Power of Prayer Through the Son
According to the Bible, the name of Jesus is very powerful. In fact, St. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, calls Jesus' name, the "name above all names." Christians often end their prayers in Jesus' name without thinking, but what does that even mean?
First, when we pray in Jesus' name, we're recognizing that our connection to the Father comes through Jesus. Jesus died on the cross so that we could be reconciled to God. In the Gospels, Jesus said that no one comes to the Father except through Him. While it is not necessary to end every prayer with "in Jesus' name," saying it is a powerful reminder that we have unique and effective access to the Father through His Son.
Second, to pray in Jesus' name is recognition that we are praying through Jesus. Jesus is both God and man forever, always mediating for us in the presence of the Father. Since Jesus is our one mediator, we approach the Father through Him. Praying in His name is a recognition of His role in presenting our prayers to God.
Finally, when we say a prayer in Jesus' name, it is a recognition of our dependence on Him. We don't pray in our own name with our own power. Rather, we pray totally dependent on the resurrected one who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit.