Often, we pray "in Jesus' name." What role does Jesus have in our prayers? Are we hoping that he passes them along to God the Father with his stamp of approval?
Some theologians teach, based on the scriptures, that we should pray in Jesus' name in order to approach God with the mantle of Jesus' authority as the Son of God. Scripture records Jesus teaching his disciples that God will do things for them that they ask in his name (meaning in Jesus' name) because God will accept the prayer as if Jesus himself prayed it.
I'm not entirely convinced that is what these passages (such as John 14:14) mean. Setting my doubts aside, though, I think that it is better to imagine that when we pray "in Jesus' name" we are praying to God in the way Jesus demonstrated to us.
As such, Jesus is not involved in our prayers as some sort of intercessor on our behalf; neither is he a sort of ticket that allows us into God's presence. He is the best example of how to pray directly to the one he called Abba, Father. He is the best example of how to pray with love instead of hate, with an eye toward personal transformation rather than toward personal elevation. We pray in Jesus' name as Jesus' disciples.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Before you pray today, imagine what you know about how Jesus prayed. If you don't know how Jesus prayed, read parts of the gospels, like Matthew 6 or John 17. Then try to follow his example as you pray.
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