“At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.”
In every group there is at least one “name dropper”. Whether for the need to feel important or for actually getting something that they want, they have no shame in using someone else’s name to pry open the door or bring leverage. Maybe we all do it, but what if everyone stood on their own two feet and we didn’t have anyone invoking others to bring about action? I think it would be good as we’d each have to up our own game and be an influence because of who we are and what we have accomplished, or will accomplish, versus using a crutch of someone else.
As I was reading through the Gospels it hit me in the book of John that Jesus threw His Disciples a huge curve ball when He instructed them to pray from that point forward by using His name. Think about it for a second. Before this they were taught generation by generation, practiced and relied upon praying to God the Father in one way and now they were given a new way to pray. We don’t know how the Disciples reacted but it had to have been a shock and being human beings something that they had to take in, process, and then decide to start doing. Jesus was reinforcing to them the power that He has bestowed to all of us, if we are bold and faithful when we use His name! In this case, name dropping is a great thing.
Reference: John 16:23 (New Living Translation)