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That's what prayer is all about. In the Name of Jesus. When you pray to the Father, the First Person of the Holy Trinity, IN the Name of Jesus the only begotten Son, it is, (to the Father), as if Jesus Himself is speaking to Him. When you pray to God in the Nazarene's Name it means that you seek to pray with His heart, inclinations, wishes and desires.

For Jesus, to pray was simply to talk to His loving Father. Jesus still prays to the Father, in that Jesus still communicates to and with the Father. While we can't understand the interpersonal relationships of the Holy Trinity, we can understand that our ever-Incarnated Lord still has His glorified flesh and blood. Jesus still has His face, lips, tongue, larynx, and beautiful Grace filled voice. Jesus still prays. Jesus still talks to His Father on your behalf. The Holy Spirit, the finger and pen of God, caused the letter writer to the Hebrews to record: "... He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood...He always lives to make intercession for them." [Heb7.24.25]

To "intercede" is to step into the breach, the gap, the line of fire. To "intercede" is to come to the rescue, to seek to interpose, to substitute ones' own body, actions and resources on behalf of one who can't do for himself. Parents intercede on behalf of their young children. Moses interceded on behalf of the Children of Israel when he told the Lord to take him, strike him down, kill him, rather than vent wrath and destruction on the wayward Hebrews.

Jesus interceded for you when He kept the Commandments. Jesus obeyed all of God's Law from the moment of conception onwards. In His flesh, Immanuel gave eternal credit and dignity to your flesh by keeping the Law. Jesus interceded for you when He stepped into the dock at your trial for sedition, murder and treason. He allowed Himself to be made sin, (He who knew no sin, Who was perfectly sinless and pure), for all of your trespasses. He interceded by taking your place on the gallows of the tree. He interceded for you by taking your blows, suffering your shame, feeling your deserved abandonment, being roasted with your just hellish condemnation. He interceded by taking your fouled and smelling clothing, your nature, and exchanging it for His pure sweet smelling righteousness. He wore your sin, your skin, to the Cross, that you might wear His Body and Blood to the banquet table.

"Whatever you ask the Father IN MY NAME, He will give you." As Lutherans, we ask: "What does this mean?" It does not mean that all of your cravings (even the ones that you consider to be pious, helpful, and "Christian" will be granted). Obviously. You've prayed. And you know that what you've wanted you have not received. But, what you have prayed IN HIS NAME was given you; and always will be lavished upon you. What is His Name? Jesus. What does Jesus mean? Savior, salvation. He saves!!! The Lord delivers to you that which is of Jesus--salvation and the Faith to hold on to it. You are given the very bearer of the name Jesus in that you also receive His own Body and Blood as a pledge. Whenever you pray for a greater, deeper, more informed faith, the Lord hears your request and grants it. It is Jesus Name, His reality. His person and work, which the Father delights in giving to you by the Spirit.

When you pray, you are not to pray in the name of The Father, you are most assuredly not to pray in the name of any sinful human, be it yourself, the Saints or even the Blessed Virgin. You pray in Jesus' Name. IN. That is an important word. "In, with, and under" are the three helpful prepositions which help explain the Sacramental Union of bread and wine with Body and Blood. IN helps to explain your relationship with your Savior Redeemer God. When you ask the Father IN Jesus' Name, you're talking to Him AS JESUS, Clothed in JESUS, as Jesus would ask. Of course the Father will say yes to His beloved Son ; or to you, since you are IN JESUS.

When the thieving lying sinner known to us as Jacob, came before the Patriarch, St. Isaac, his very own Father, he was clothed in skin not his own. He was wearing wool of a lamb, the robes which would make him "right" in the sight of the old man... the only one who could give him blessing and birth right. What a pefect picture of all of you. You're not wearing the pelt of a sheep, your wearing the body of THE LAMB OF GOD HIMSEL--the very paschal lamb. You are clothed in Christ in your baptisms. Appearing before your Father "Who art in heaven" you are covered in Jesus' own robes of rightness... you wear His very Name "Jesus" "saved" upon your forehead and upon your breast marking you as one redeemed by Christ the Crucified. When the Father looks at you He sees Jesus His beloved Son. When the Father hears your plaintive cries for mecry and forgiveness. He hears the petitions of His Only Begotten which are now always answered.

To love Jesus, which you do, is to believe IN Him; to trust Him and to rely on Him and not yourselves. To love the Lord is to be IN HIM and to have Him IN YOU. That you have by Baptism, and by Holy Eucharist.

Pray the "Our Father" IN the Name of the Blessed Son, in your own adopted name as well... beloved children...sons and daughters of the King.