Shall We Pray to Jesus? What Does the Bible Say?

Shall We Pray to Jesus?

Without a doubt the Bible speaks most often of disciples of Christ directing their prayers to God the Father through God the Son, Jesus Christ. Through the ages, and still today, many of us consistently address God as “our Father in heaven,” and we close our prayers with the words, “in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Jesus clearly taught this manner of prayer when he told his disciples in John 16:23, “In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Other scriptures, such as Ephesians 5:20 and Colossians 3:17, call God’s people to give thanks to God the Father “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” or “through him.”

However, does that clear teaching preclude prayer offered to Jesus himself? Is the Bible silent on this matter? Or is there also clear biblical evidence that the early disciples prayed to Christ himself? Let’s consider why many say, “Yes!”

1. Stephen’s words at his death

First is the case of Stephen. As he was dying, he “called out” and “cried out” to Jesus as Lord, requesting that Jesus receive his spirit and that he not hold his killers accountable for their sin.

Acts 7:59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Of course, when Jesus himself was dying, he called out to the Father in a similar way.

Lk 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Lk 23:34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

It seems that with these words Jesus prayed to the Father. With that being the case, it’s reasonable to think that Stephen was also praying when he cried out to Jesus with virtually the exact same requests.

2. Disciples’ calling on Jesus as Lord

The second line of support for praying to Jesus notes the multiple occasions in which people in the New Testament “called upon the name of the Lord.” According to 1 Corinthians 8:6, the term “Lord” was often understood to specify Jesus Christ, as distinct from the Father. Jesus is called the “one Lord.”

1 Cor 8:6 … yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Multiple examples indicate that the disciples called out to Christ as Lord.

In Acts 9:10-17, Ananias spoke with “the Lord.” “The Lord” was obviously a reference to Christ as Ananias said in verse 17, “The Lord Jesus has sent me.” And backing up a bit, Ananias also noted (to Jesus) “all who call on your name” (Acts 9:14).

Note further:

Acts 9:21 And all who heard [Saul] were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”

Acts 22:16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Rom 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

1 Cor 1:2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

2 Tim 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

3. Paul’s “thorn” prayer and Jesus’ answer to him

A third convincing reason to conclude that God’s people prayed to Christ comes from the specific three-time request from Paul, in which he begged the Lord to remove his thorn.

2 Cor 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that [the thorn] should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It seems evident that “the Lord” here is a reference to Christ. Here’s why. The Lord speaks in his reply of “my power,” which Paul then calls, “the power of Christ.”

4. Paul’s prayer for Christ’s return

As a fourth line of reasoning, we see that Paul wrote by inspiration, “Maranatha” (1 Corinthians 16:22). “Maranatha” is a transliteration of two words from the Aramaic language. The meaning is, “O Lord, come!” Apparently Paul was praying to Jesus to return.

5. John’s prayer for Christ’s return

We find the apostle John proclaiming a similar prayer to Jesus asking for his return near the close of Revelation.

Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

6. Christians’ singing of prayer hymns to Christ

The final line of reasoning, in this post anyway, is not directly related to scripture, but rather to hymns that Christians have sung for centuries. These hymns are prayers to Christ that are set to music. If one spoke these lyrics rather than singing them, that person would be offering a prayer.

Here are some lyrics from just a few of these hymns. “Jesus, keep me near the cross.” “Jesus, let us come to know you.” “Just a closer walk with thee. Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.” “In the hour of trial, Jesus, plead for me.” “If ever I loved thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.” “Jesus, …enter ev’ry trembling heart.” “Hide me, O my Savior.” “Tarry with me, O my Savior.”

Conclusion

The New Testament predominantly speaks of disciples praying to God the Father in the name of (or through) Jesus Christ. At the same time, there is solid biblical support for prayers being offered to Christ himself.

I’ll close with the words of a beautiful prayer hymn offered to Christ. It’s taken from what two disciples asked Jesus on the road to Emmaus, after his resurrection.

Luke 24:29 (NKJV) But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

Abide With Me, by Henry Francis Lyte

1 Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

2 Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

3 I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

4 I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless,
ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

5 Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.