November 7 / John 16:16-24

John 16:16-24

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I keep thinking about the phrase, “…in My name”. Jesus speaks that phrase twice in today’s reading and once more later in the chapter. In addition He spoke it once in Chapter 15 and three more times in Chapter 14. Six of those seven occurrences are associated with Jesus’ guiding the disciples as they ask the Father; the other is of the Holy Spirit’s being sent in Jesus’ name. We know that this phrase, “in My name” is powerful; we end so many of our prayers with “…in Jesus’ name”. But…

I wonder if that phrase has become almost cliché in our usage, that we are not really aware of what we are saying. The more I think about it, the more I come to understand that “in My name” or “in Jesus’ name” means in Jesus’ will, in His desires for us – our agreement with what He wants. That every time we end our prayers with “in Jesus’ name”, what we are really saying is “…not my will, but Your will be done”. So let’s think about that as we pray.

In Jesus’ name,

Slava Bohu!