Prayer to Jesus in Scripture and Tradition

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Prayer to Jesus in Scripture and Tradition

The Church’s prayers, both liturgical and personal, are profoundly Christ-centered. From the rising of the sun to its going down, believers invoke the Holy Name of Jesus—calling upon Him for mercy, help, and salvation. Far from being a later custom, this direct address to the Lord Jesus is deeply biblical, expressed throughout Scripture and faithfully preserved in the Orthodox tradition.

Examples of Praying Directly to Jesus in Christian Liturgy

From the earliest centuries, the Church has preserved prayers that speak directly to the Lord Jesus. These are not innovations, but faithful continuations of the scriptural pattern:

  • The Jesus Prayer (Eastern Orthodox):
    “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” — drawn from the blind man’s cry in Luke 18 och Mark 10:47, repeated in unceasing prayer.

  • The Kyrie Eleison (Greek and Latin Rites):
    “Κύριε ἐλέησον · Christe ἐλέησον · Κύριε ἐλέησον” —
    “Lord have mercy · Christ have mercy · Lord have mercy. ”
    The simplest corporate invocation of Jesus, used in every Divine Liturgy or Mass.

  • The Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Western liturgy):
    “O Lord Jesus Christ, only-begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.”

  • The Agnus Dei:
    “O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us … grant us thy peace.”

  • Eastern Hymn ‘O Only-Begotten Son and Word of God’:
    “Thou who, being immortal, didst condescend to be incarnate … O Christ our God, save us.”

  • Biblical prayers echoed in worship:
    “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59),
    “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20),
    “Lord, save me” (Matt 14:30).

These forms—public and private—show that addressing Christ directly in prayer has always been part of the Church’s living tradition, perfectly in harmony with the Scriptures. They embody the confidence of His own promise: “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

John 14:13–14 — The Key Passage

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” — John 14:13-14 (KJV)

The original Greek includes the word me (με) in verse 14 — “If ye shall ask Me any thing in my name, I will do it.”
Here the Lord Himself invites the faithful to speak to Him directly. The Son acts, the Father is glorified, and the Spirit unites our prayer in divine harmony.

Direct Prayers to Jesus in Scripture

Acts 7:59-60 – “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. … Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”
Stephen’s final words are direct petitions to the risen Christ.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 – “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice… And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee.”
Paul prays to the Lord Jesus and receives a personal reply.

1 Corinthians 1:2 – “…with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. ”
“Calling on the name” is a biblical phrase for invocation—proof that the early Church prayed to Jesus.

Mark 10:47-48 – “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me! … Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Bartimaeus’ plea became the ancient Kyrie eleison—“Lord, have mercy.”

Matthew 20:30-34 – “Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. … And Jesus had compassion on them.”
Two blind men pray directly to Jesus, recognizing Him as Lord.

Luke 17:5 – “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”
Faith itself is requested from Christ as divine giver.

Revelation 22:20 – “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
The final prayer of Scripture is addressed to Jesus Himself.

Early Christian Understanding

From the first century onward, the Church invoked Christ in prayer.

  • Ignatius of Antioch called Jesus “our God.”

  • Athanasius taught that believers “invoke the Son as they do the Father.”

  • The repeated cry “Lord, have mercy” in liturgy comes directly from these Gospel prayers to Jesus.

The Balanced Pattern of Prayer

The New Testament shows harmony rather than restriction:

  1. To the Father — as Jesus taught (“Our Father,” Matt 6:9).

  2. Through the Son — in His name and authority (John 14:13).

  3. In the Spirit — who empowers and intercedes (Rom 8:26).

Yet believers also spoke directly to the Son, who is one with the Father. Prayer to Jesus glorifies the Father through the Son’s divine action.

Slutsats

To pray directly to the Lord Jesus is not a new practice but the natural expression of apostolic faith. From Stephen’s cry to the final words of Revelation, the saints prayed, “Lord Jesus, have mercy,” “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” and “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Such prayer proclaims the unity of the Holy Trinity and the living presence of Christ among His people.

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” — John 14:13-14 KJV

Further Reading & Resources

🎥 Video Lecture: Continual Prayer and Christ’s Victory (Dr Brunswick)