Introduction:

The final days of anyone on earth are always days of handing over precious information to the next generation. When Jesus knew that He was coming close to His passion,  He met with His disciples for the last supper, washed the disciples' feet and Judas Iscariot finally left the company of the disciples. Jesus begins His parting address to His disciples. It was the intimate fellowship around the table and Christ proclaimed the new commandment, that they should love one another (Chpt 13). He comforted their hearts  by telling them that He was to go to prepare a place for them; He had shown Himself to be the revelation of God the Father. He had given them a vision of their coming task: the greater works that they should accomplish. Then, as if coming to the heart of His message, as indicative of how these greater works should be accomplished, he solemnly speaks these words, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it" (John 14:13, 14). We learn from John 16:24, that the disciples had asked nothing in the name of Jesus up to this time. It was a new command; a new challenge; a new revelation. The statement was clear. There was only one condition: "in my name." There is no greater revelation concerning prayer, nor a greater challenge to enter into and claim God's promise than in this verse. Here, then, is the key to prevailing prayer. But what did Christ mean by asking "in my name"?

1)      The meaning of the name of Jesus:  Isa. 9:6, Matt.1:21

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

"And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

"Jesus" is an English rendering of the Greek name Iēsous(Joshua), which is a translation of the ancient Hebrew Yehoshua[Yeshua (ישוע)]. This name is formed from Hebrew roots signifying "Jehovah is salvation" and is translated in our English Old Testament as "Joshua."

The name of Jesus is infinitely glorious because of it significance and content.

• The significance of His name: Act 4:12

a)      The Hebrew meaning of Jesus is "Jehovah is salvation". Salvation is available to all only by His name. Act 4:12

b)      The angel proclaimed His name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

• The content of His name: Isa.9:6

a)      His name shall be called Wonderful (Isa.29:14)

b)      His name shall be called Counselor (Jhn.14:26)

c)       His name shall be called the mighty God (Jhn.1:1)

d)      His name shall be called the everlasting Father (Heb.1:2)

e)      His name shall be called the Prince of Peace (Jhn.14:27)

2)      The Implications of His name. Jhn.1413,14                                                  

 "And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

When an individual does something in the name of another, it indicates union which may be of different kinds. Andrew Murray pointed out that this union may take three different lines: legal union, family union and marriage or love union.

• Legal union; Men in business partnership are joined so that what one does is done in the name of the other and vice versa. The employee who runs a business for his employer constantly acts in the name of his employer. He may have extended to him all the privileges going with the power of his name as much as the business is concerned. The same applies to the name of Jesus given to believers.We have spiritual legal right to use His name.             
• Family Union;This is a father and son relationship. The son bears the father's name and because he has that name there fall to him certain privileges. The union is one of life: there is blood relationship. The blood of Jesus that redeemed us brought us into God's family with the same privileges Jesus enjoyed while he was on earth. We are joint-heirs with Him.Rom. 8:17
• Marriage or love union. The bride takes the name of the bridegroom. She then has certain rights and privileges in virtue of the fact that she has taken a new name. The Church is the bride of Christ.. These modern analogies come far from representing what Christ meant by "in my name." He meant legal union, family union, love union, and yet more than all of this. The central fact lies in the power of the name "JESUS". Rev.19:7-9

Contributor: Alex Alajiki