All children of God are entitled to have certain spiritual shares with God through Jesus Christ. If you are a child of God, you are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ. Unless you know what your shares are, you will not be able to live as an heir of God utilizing them. These shares are promised to be given to us, and Jesus taught us what they are in his farewell speech (John 13-16). When Jesus washed Peter’s feet, he said to him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part (share) with me (v. 8).” The share was given in a package of two things—the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Now, as for the use of the name of Jesus, there are two ways to use it. Of course, we should not forget that Jesus’ name is not simply a tool, but it represents the person of Jesus himself whom we admire and worship. However, it is also important to know that, according to Jesus, it is a share given to us so that we can use it.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:13-14).

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name (15:16).

Compare these two statements on the use of Jesus’ name. The first one is about asking Jesus, and the second one is about asking the Father. While in the first one, Jesus says he will do it, in the second one, he says the Father will give it. These are not the same. The first type of asking is really a demanding or proclaiming type of asking directly upon the circumstances as Jesus did to the fig tree, or as Peter did to the invalid man at the gate called Beautiful. The second type of asking is more familiar to us: it is what we normally call a prayer. But we need to look at these words of Jesus more carefully. He further taught about the second type of asking as follows:

In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (v. 23).

Note that it is the Father who gives you what you ask in Jesus’ name in this type of asking. As Jesus said here, the disciples had not, so far, asked the Father in this way. In fact, they never had a direct access to the Father so that they could ask him. That was why Jesus came to the earth as the way to the Father. He became the bridge between us and the Father. Before Jesus came and died for us, no one on earth was able to ask the Father directly. All that people could do that time was to pray vaguely to God, not really knowing who God was. How could they be sure that their prayers were heard when they were not sure whom they were praying to? For them, God was only a God, not their Father.

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete (v. 24)

When Jesus was on earth, he always prayed to the Father asking him to heal the sick, raise the dead, and provide whatever people needed. Whenever the disciples had needs or some kind of trouble, they came to Jesus, who then asked the Father on their behalf. His prayer was always heard, and the Father did whatever he asked. But now, he no longer asks the Father for us because we all have the same access to the Father as Jesus had. And when we ask the Father in the name of Jesus, it is the same as Jesus asking the Father. So Jesus said:

In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf (16:26).