"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps." {1 Peter 2:21} While He was among men here on earth, Jesus gave many examples of how we ought to conduct our lives. He also gave examples to His disciples. "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." {John 13:15} One of the most important examples He set before us was His praying and the part it played in His life. This article examines prayer in our Lord's Life.
At Jesus' baptism, the Father communicated with Him. "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' " {Matthew 3:16,17} This showed the Father's divine approval of the work His Son was about to begin. Jesus' baptism marked the beginning of His three-year public ministry.
Jesus prayed in solitude. "However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." {Luke 5:15,16} "And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray." {Mark 6:46} Often, when surrounded by pressure, Jesus departed to a quiet place and prayed. In this way, He received inward renewal to give Him strength to do His Father's will. The more His fame spread, the more people demanded of Him. He prayed to be sure He stayed on course.
He prayed when he was sorrowful. "And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there." {Matthew 14:23} When He first heard about John's death, Jesus attempted to go to a deserted place. But the crowds pressured Him, and He felt compassion for them. So He fed the 5,000, and afterward, when they went away, He went to a mountain to pray about the loss of John the Baptist. Yes, prayer can be a comfort when we are deeply grieved over the loss of a loved one. We gain great comfort from knowing that God is touched by our grief.
Jesus prayed before He chose the twelve. "Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." {Luke 6:12} Why should He pray before choosing His twelve disciples? These men were going to carry on His work after He ascended back to heaven. He would spend the next three years teaching and training them for this work. He also knew that one would betray Him, and another would deny Him. Still, He sought His Father's counsel. Do we think to pray before we make important decisions?
On the Mount of Transfiguration, the Father again communicated with Jesus. "And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!' Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves." {Mark 9:7,8} Again, the Father spoke from heaven a vital message for Jesus' disciples and for us. Moses, the Old Testament lawgiver would no longer be God's spokesperson. Elijah, one of the prophets God sent to speak to the people for Him, symbolized the fact that no longer would the prophets speak for Him, but only His Son. God's Son is the only person authorized by the Father to speak to men today. If we desire to know God's mind, we must obtain that knowledge from Christ -- through His word. What an honor for Peter, James, and John to witness Jesus' transfiguration. Sadly, many still seek to justify their actions through Moses and the prophets and the Old Law. We must hear Christ and only Christ!
He prayed to offer praise and thanksgiving. "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes." {Matthew 11:25} Jesus was thankful that the truth was revealed to those with receptive hearts and hidden from those whose minds were closed to Him and truth. "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, 'Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.' " {John 11:41,42} Following Lazarus' resurrection from the dead, Jesus thanked the Father for hearing Him and for raising Lazarus from his grave. If the Son of God understood the need to thank His Father, surely we can see the need to thank Him for all He does for us!
Jesus prayed for Peter. "And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.' " {Luke 22:31,32} Jesus knew the trial through which Peter was about to go. He prayed that when it was over, Peter would return to Him and strengthen his brethren. Later in this same chapter, after Peter denied the Lord three times, he saw Him eye-to-eye. And realizing that he had failed by denying the Lord after having pledged his life for Him, he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61,62) We know that God answered our Lord's prayer, because Peter went on to do great things for Christ and His cause.
He prayed in anguish. "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say: Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, 'I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.' "{John 12:27,28} Jesus understood what was ahead and what He must accomplish. He prayed to the Father for strength to finish the work, including His cruel death on Calvary, He was sent to do.
He prayed the prayer recorded in John 17. This is a powerful prayer that we would do well to study carefully, in the time frame during which it was offered. These are Christ's final instructions to the disciples, prior to His arrest, and before His death. He began by praying for Himself and for His work (17:1-5). Then, He prayed for the disciples and all those who would become disciples because of their work (17:6-19). He prayed for unity -- Bible unity, based on truth (17:20-22). We must strive to keep the unity for which He prayed.
He prayed in Gethsemane. "Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.' And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words." {Matthew 26:42-44} He understood that the cross would bring pain, agony, suffering, mockery, and separation from the Father. He was willing to endure these indignities to complete His father's plan for redeeming all mankind. Yet, He prayed to His Father for strength.
He prayed on the Cross. "Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." {Luke 23:34} Even in death, Jesus showed us what it means to truly love others. He prayed for those who, with lawless hands, had taken and crucified Him. Yes, the Son had a deep love for those who were lost and in need of the very thing His death provided for them.
Our Lord was a praying man. There could be no greater role model. He showed us the value and power of prayer. He set these examples -- are we learning from them?