Can You Pray To Jesus? Is It Even Biblical?

Caleb B. -

Introduction
    I am writing this Article after a very disheartening discovery that many Christians do not pray to Christ. To some of Us it makes complete common sense that you can pray to Christ, yet others say you cannot or should not. I will be going over many verses that without doubt show that we can pray to Christ I will also being going over some verses that show that Biblically we can worship Christ. Again I will be quoting from The Bible, specifically the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE). 
Section 1. What Is Prayer
    Before we get into the topic of this Article I want to go over a 'Biblical Definition' of the word, Pray/Prayer/Praying. When we hear the word, prayer, we normally think of when someone is in deep thought and meditation to God, thinking about His promises and Word; praising God and glorifying Him and asking Him for His mercies and protection and strength; prayers for the sick to be healed. We see instances where prayer like this is found in places like: 1Kings 8:35-40; 1Kings 17:20-22; 1Kings 18:36-39; Acts 12:5. 
    Now this is not necessarily the entire definition of the word prayer. Prayer also means communion, fellowship, and to simply talk with. Many do not know that Prayer has many meanings and is not only Worship. 
Section 2. John 16:23
    I will not be surprised if the crowd that will always scream this verse whenever you see people praying to Jesus or touching upon the subject. I will first be refuting the argument that is almost non-existent when the blind sheep scream the verse whenever they can. 
    23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name.

In the context of the verse Christ said in verse 17 that they Disciples will no longer see Him, because He is going to the Father. Then we get this verse here in 23. Christ is speaking of the future when He is not physically there with the Disciples on Earth. Post Ascension on the Mount of Olives. So what does Christ mean by, "you will ask nothing of me"? This refers for the spiritual knowledge when they go out into all the world[ 11. Matthew 28:19-20]. They will no longer be able to come back and refer to Christ for knowledge, and for one more thing which I will touch on later. When Christ speaks about asking the Father here in this context, go back to John 16:13-14 and John 14:26. 
    26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
    13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

 Before John 16:23  we have these two sets of verses here where Christ speaks of the Holy Spirit. in John 14, Christ tells the Disciples that the Holy Spirit which the FATHER will send to them in Christ's Name, will TEACH them all things that Christ told them before. Again, referring to when Christ is not around physically on earth because if Christ was still there, the Disciples could go to Him and ask Him, yet Christ is speaking of when He won't be there, the Spirit will come and teach them What Christ said and did. Then back in John 16:13-14, Christ again tells the Disciples that the Spirit of Truth will come and guide them into all Truth, the Spirit will declare things to come and Glorify Christ. Forward to after Christ's death and resurrection. In Acts 1:9 Christ ascended into Heaven. Then in Acts 2:1-36 the Disciples were gathered and the Holy Spirit came down from Heaven and immediately gave them truth and wisdom and Peter stands up and begins preaching about Christ. 
    Now back to John 16 with verse 23, I believe that what Christ said was not referring to prayer. What Christ said had a specific intention when Christ said these things to His Disciples in that moment, which concerned their Ministry after Christ was gone. This assertion is based on these two verses:
    26 In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;

Now that you have read the passage do you realize what I and others realize? It appears that Christ said this specifically because He knew people would interpret the previous passage to mean this. Christ said that when you ask the Father things in Christ's name, it does not mean that Christ will speak on behalf of you to the Father. Notice how they translate "speak on behalf" to pray, one of the other meanings and uses for prayer.
    Now for the other reason for what it meant back in verse 23: "you will ask me no question at all."
27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! 30 Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you came from God.”

The other reason I foreshadowed to, is that what Christ also meant that when no one will question Him, it means no one will question about Who He is. Not only the Son of David the King of Israel, the Messiah, but the Son of God and God alongside the Father. The Disciples certainly realized this part in these verses, while the second meaning of verse 23 had not come yet. 
Section 3. Praying To Christ Is Biblical
    Within this section, I will be going over a variety of verses that show Christ being prayed to and they are not rebuked and even are answered. 
13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; 14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

Here Christ is speaking about Prayer. Christ in verse 3 had just talked about His departing again. So here in verse 13-14 is referring to after Christ is gone. Christ says He will do whatever is asked in His name so that the Father will be glorified too. That is why I know these verses refer to prayer, because when did we read about Christ being glorified? When Christ said "whatever you ask in my name, I will do this," Whatever is asked of Christ and He does, people will glorify GOD the Father and the Son. Glorification is a type of prayer and in context of the verses, it prayer is being spoken about. 
    21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen

Here we read Jesus referred to as Lord, then they pray to the LORD, and to them the Lord was Christ meaning they prayed to Christ. Christ is the Lord. And I make this assertion because we know from Scripture that Christ knows the hearts of men. [ 2. Luke 9:7]
59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

    Here not only does Saint Stephen pray to the Lord Jesus, he also requests in a second prayer to not hold the sins against the me who were murdering him. Saint Stephen is not rebuked at all. 
    2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

        This verse is very clear to us that when Saint Paul is writing to the Corinthians, he knows that the congregation there is praying to Christ. Praying to Christ is encouraged and not restricted. 
8 Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

    Here Saint Paul is admitting that he has prayed to Christ about a specific problem three times and got answered by Christ instead of being rebuked. 
    12 I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service,

    Saint Paul here is reminiscing on his past and he praises Christ, and what is a form of prayer? Praise. There is no doubt Saint Paul prayed to Christ thanking Him for saving him and opening his eyes in Truth. 
    8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; 9 and they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

    In verse 8 the four living creatures and all the elders fell down before the Lamb. The begin singing about and to the Lamb, praise(prayer) Then Saint John says that he heard the throne angels and thousands of angels who blessed(prayed) the Lamb. Then Saint John hears every creature again bless(pray) the Lamb, then verse 14 hits it home here. The four living creatures said Amen to close the prayers, then the elders fell down and WORSHIPPED. How much more clear can it be? Finally the Bible ends with two prayers, both are to Christ. 
    20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
    21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

    At the end of verse 20 we hear a simple prayer, "Amen, Come Lord Jesus." Then verse 21 gives us a benediction which is also a prayer, invoking a blessing upon the holy ones from Christ. It cannot be simpler, Christ was prayed to without correction and Christ can be prayed to according to the Bible and it is one-hundred percent Biblical without a doubt. This does not mean you cannot pray to the Father as well, you should, but you can pray to Christ as well as I have shown you. And these Examples I have shown fully in this Article are not all the prayers I have found. I have found countless prayers that are directed to Jesus throughout the New Testament. Specifically these are Benedictions from Saint Paul. (Romans 1:17; 16:20; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 16:23; 2 Corinthians 1:2; 13:14; Galatians 1:3; 6:18; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1;2; 4:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 3:16; 3:18; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; 4:22; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3; 1:25; James 1:1-8)
Final Section 4. My Final Statements
    I have gone over a handful of verses that have shown with complete accuracy that Christ was prayed, encouraged to be prayed to and is prayed to. It did shock me when I researched and found out that many people who call themselves Christians do not pray to Jesus but only pray to the Father in Jesus name doing what Christ said it does not mean in John 16:26. Again if you find any misspellings or grammatical errors in my commentaries beneath the verses comment it down below and tell me your thoughts whether you learned something you never knew before and or never connected or if you have any additional things I may have missed. 

"The LORD bless you
and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you 
and give you peace." ☦

Location: Mt of Olives, Jerusalem

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