Questions and Answers

Question: Jesus' death and resurrection lifted the veil between human beings and God the Father (Matthew 27:51; 2 Corinthians 3:14-16). Since we now have direct contact with the Father, unlike the ancients who only knew the God of the Old Testament—Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4)—why do we need to pray to Jesus? In fact, should we be praying to Christ at all, since He came to reveal the Father (John 14:7)?

Answer: It is surprising to see how many professing Christians almost totally ignore God the Father in their prayers. This is ironic, since Christ Himself in the "model prayer" taught His disciples to pray in the manner, "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name" (Matthew 6:9). Yes, Jesus Christ personally taught that a Christian's prayers should mainly be directed toward God the Father!

Even though Christ, as the Logos—the Word—had existed from eternity with God the Father (John 1:1-4), He deferred to His Father. To do His Father's will, He was willing to become flesh (John 1:14-15). Considering Himself the servant of His Father, He did not in any way seek to draw attention away from God the Father. Indeed, He considered Himself subordinate, telling the disciples, "My Father is greater than I" (John 14:28).

Jesus never resisted His Father's will. Knowing that He would soon be crucified, Christ prayed to His Father, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42). Indeed, Jesus was one in thought, attitude and purpose with His Father (John 10:22-39).

So, yes, we should follow Christ's words and example, and direct our prayers to God the Father. But when we pray to the Father, we must never forget that we can only do so by the authority of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17).

The Apostle Paul wrote of his hope that Christians' "hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3). Not only did our Savior teach us to pray to God the Father; He made those prayers possible. God the Father does not want us to avoid a loving, personal relationship with His beloved Son (Matthew 17:5).

Scripture gives us the example of the deacon Stephen—the first recorded martyr of the Apostolic Church. "And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit'" (Acts 7:59). Even at the very end of his life, while he was being murdered for his bold preaching, Stephen called out not to God the Father but to Jesus Christ, his Savior. Stephen knew that he had a profound relationship with both God the Father and with Jesus Christ.

Jesus accepted worship—the reverence of others—directed towards Him. When He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, "they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him" (Matthew 28:9). Since His resurrection, the glorified Jesus Christ has sat at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 10:12; 1 Peter 3:21-22). As our High Priest and Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), He intercedes continually for Christians. As our High Priest and our Savior, He is worthy of worship, and of receiving our prayers. If we have a relationship with Christ, we will obey Him and pray to God the Father, but we will not forget that it is our relationship with Christ that allows us to know the Father (John 17:20-23).

No, it is not wrong to pray to Jesus Christ—but we should not dismiss Christ's instruction that we pray to His Father. We will please and honor Christ far more by obeying what He taught than by minimizing or ignoring His direct command that we pray first and foremost to His Father.