Waggoner on the Gospel of John - Ellet J. Waggoner

will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the
Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do
it." (John 14:13, 14) A most wonderful promise,
and yet a most natural one, when we think what it
means to pray in the name of Jesus.
In the first place, it does not mean simply the
repetition of the word Jesus. That would be but
mockery. In (Acts 19:13-16) we have an instance
of the uselessness of that. The name of Jesus is not
to be used as a charm. There is power in it, but it is
not the power of magic.
We are to pray in His name. That is, we are to
be in the name, and the name is Himself. We are to
come, not in our own name and person, but in the
name and Person of Jesus of Nazareth. We are not
to personate Him, however. Such a fraud would
quickly be detected. No; we are to be left entirely
out of the question. We are not worthy to approach
the throne of God. People say, "I am so unworthy: I
am not fit to come into God's presence." Very well,
provision has been made for all such cases. We
know that Christ is worthy. "In the day of His
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