The other day, I found myself in one of those unexpectedly deep conversations — the kind that starts casually and then suddenly you’re knee‑deep in theology, Scripture, and the nature of God Himself. A friend told me he believes Jesus was a real historical figure who died for our sins, but he still feels he must pray only to God the Father.
His reasoning? The commandment: “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
To him, praying through Jesus felt like adding a second deity into the mix. And honestly — that’s a sincere concern. It deserves a sincere answer.
So we talked. And what unfolded is something worth sharing, because it’s a question many people quietly wrestle with:
If Jesus is God, why does He pray to the Father? And if we pray through Jesus, are we breaking the first commandment?
Let’s walk through what Scripture actually says.
One God — Not Three Competing Beings
Christianity stands on the unshakable truth that there is only one God (Deut. 6:4). The Trinity doesn’t add gods — it reveals God’s nature.
The Bible presents:
- One divine essence
- Three distinct Persons
- Perfect unity of will, purpose, and identity
The Father is God. The Son is God. The Spirit is God. But they are not three gods — they are one God.
This isn’t philosophical gymnastics. It’s the only way to make sense of everything Scripture reveals.
Jesus Is Identified as God Throughout the New Testament
My friend’s concern was rooted in wanting to honor God alone — which is good. But the New Testament writers, all monotheistic Jews, had no hesitation calling Jesus divine:
- “The Word was God.” (John 1:1)
- “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
- “In Him all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Col. 2:9)
If Jesus were merely a prophet or moral teacher, these statements would be blasphemy. But they aren’t — because Jesus shares the identity of the one true God.
So Why Does Jesus Pray to the Father?
This was my friend’s biggest sticking point. He said, “If Jesus is God, why would He say, ‘My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ Isn’t He talking to Himself?”
Here’s the key:
**Jesus isn’t the Father.
He is the Son. Different Person — same divine nature.**
When Jesus prays, He isn’t talking to Himself. He’s speaking within the eternal relationship of the Trinity.
And on the cross, He’s quoting Psalm 22 — a prophecy every Jewish listener would recognize. It begins in anguish but ends in triumph. Jesus wasn’t denying His divinity — He was fulfilling Scripture.
“No One Comes to the Father Except Through Me”
I brought up this verse in our conversation:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus isn’t blocking access to God — He’s providing it. He’s not a second god. He’s the visible, relational, redeeming expression of the one God.
Praying “in Jesus’ name” isn’t praying to another deity. It’s approaching the Father through the Son — exactly as God designed. The Father is the destination; the Son is the way.
The Trinity Is Not a Problem to Solve — It’s a Revelation to Receive
The Father sends. The Son saves. The Spirit empowers. Three Persons. One God. One mission.
The Trinity isn’t a contradiction. It’s the only framework that honors everything Scripture reveals about God’s identity, Jesus’ divinity, and the Spirit’s presence.
Why This Conversation Matters
As my friend and I wrapped up, I realized something important:
His hesitation wasn’t rebellion — it was reverence. He didn’t want to dishonor God. He didn’t want to worship “another god.”
And that’s exactly why the Trinity matters. It protects the truth that Jesus is not another god — He is God revealed to us in a way we can see, know, and approach.
Praying through Jesus doesn’t break the first commandment. It fulfills it.
Because when you pray in Jesus’ name, you’re not choosing between the Father and the Son. You’re speaking to the one God who loved you enough to step into human history, take on flesh, and open the way back home.
MOTEVENTURE 
Leave a comment