David Koberstein
Active Member
What does it mean to ask the Father "In Yeshua's name?" Many people treat this has a formula for prayer that we say
just before signing off: "In Jesus' name , amen." There is nothing wrong with saying this, but Jewish wisdom provides
access to the deeper meaning behind this concept.
The idiom "in the name of" in Hebrew means "as a representative of" or "on the authority of" If we ask God for something
in Jesus' name, we are asking the Father to respond to us because of our association with Jesus. In a way, we are merely
the messenger; the request actually belongs to him. When we ask in Jesus' name, it is not Jesus who represents us before
God; it is we who represent Jesus:
In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself
loves you, because you have loved me and I have believed that I came from God. (John 16:26-27).
It is a little like a person who receives a company credit card. He makes purchases on behalf of the company because he
has been delegated the authority to do so. The payment, as large as it may be, can be made because it is drawn on the
company credit card. In the same way, as disciples of Yeshua/Jesus, we have the privilege of drawing on Jesus' credit as
we make our needs known to God.
This example implies two things. First, God accepts the petitions on our lips due to the merit and virtue of Yeshua---not
our own. Second, asking in Jesus' name is not a license to name and claim whatever we like. Instead, we have a license
to ask only for things that pertain to our capacity as Jesus' agents in the world, and whatever we do receive in his name
ultimately belongs to him and not to us.
Praying in his merit and as his representatives is what it means to pray in Jesus' name. It does not require saying the words
"In Jesus' name" as a formula or that every prayer must end with "in Jesus' name, amen." On the other hand, it is quite common
in Judaism to include legal formalities when praying, and thus it is appropriate to mention Jesus and request that God answer
our prayers on his behalf.
Shalom
just before signing off: "In Jesus' name , amen." There is nothing wrong with saying this, but Jewish wisdom provides
access to the deeper meaning behind this concept.
The idiom "in the name of" in Hebrew means "as a representative of" or "on the authority of" If we ask God for something
in Jesus' name, we are asking the Father to respond to us because of our association with Jesus. In a way, we are merely
the messenger; the request actually belongs to him. When we ask in Jesus' name, it is not Jesus who represents us before
God; it is we who represent Jesus:
In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself
loves you, because you have loved me and I have believed that I came from God. (John 16:26-27).
It is a little like a person who receives a company credit card. He makes purchases on behalf of the company because he
has been delegated the authority to do so. The payment, as large as it may be, can be made because it is drawn on the
company credit card. In the same way, as disciples of Yeshua/Jesus, we have the privilege of drawing on Jesus' credit as
we make our needs known to God.
This example implies two things. First, God accepts the petitions on our lips due to the merit and virtue of Yeshua---not
our own. Second, asking in Jesus' name is not a license to name and claim whatever we like. Instead, we have a license
to ask only for things that pertain to our capacity as Jesus' agents in the world, and whatever we do receive in his name
ultimately belongs to him and not to us.
Praying in his merit and as his representatives is what it means to pray in Jesus' name. It does not require saying the words
"In Jesus' name" as a formula or that every prayer must end with "in Jesus' name, amen." On the other hand, it is quite common
in Judaism to include legal formalities when praying, and thus it is appropriate to mention Jesus and request that God answer
our prayers on his behalf.
Shalom
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