What To Learn From Christ Prayer Life

Question

What can nosotros learn from the prayers that Jesus prayed?

prayers Jesus prayed

Answer

The prayers Jesus prayed give us insight into His nature, His heart, and His mission on earth. The prayers of Jesus also inform and encourage united states of america in our ain prayer lives. Far more important than where He prayed, when He prayed, and in what position He prayed is the fact that He prayed. The theme of His prayers is instructive for all of us.

Prayer was an integral part of Jesus' time on earth, and He prayed regularly: "Jesus ofttimes withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:xvi). If the Son incarnate constitute information technology necessary to district with the Father frequently, how much more than exercise we need to do and so? Jesus faced persecution, trials, heartache, and physical suffering. Without regular and continual access to the throne of God, He would surely have institute those events unbearable. In the aforementioned mode, Christians must never neglect to "approach God's throne of grace with conviction, so that nosotros may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

What is frequently called "The Lord's Prayer" is actually a educational activity tool of Christ as function of His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9–thirteen). In this model prayer, Jesus teaches us to approach God as "our Father"; to hallow God'southward name; to pray for God'due south volition; and to inquire for daily provision, forgiveness, and spiritual protection.

In addition to His regular times of prayer, Jesus prayed at some important events in His life: He prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21–22); before feeding the 5,000 (Luke 9:16) and the 4,000 (Matthew 15:36); and at the moment of His transfiguration (Luke ix:29). Before Jesus chose His twelve disciples, He "spent the nighttime praying to God" on a mountainside (Luke 6:12).

Jesus prayed at the return of the 72 disciples: "At that time Jesus, total of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you lot take hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to lilliputian children. Yes, Begetter, for this is what you were pleased to do'" (Luke ten:21).

Jesus prayed at Lazarus' tomb. As they rolled away the rock from His friend'due south tomb, "Jesus looked up and said, 'Begetter, I thanks that you accept heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me'" (John 11:41–42). This is a good example of prayer prayed in the hearing of others for the sake of the hearers.

In Jerusalem the week of His arrest, Jesus predicted His soon-to-come up death. As He spoke of His coming sacrifice, Jesus prayed a very short prayer: "Father, glorify your proper noun!" (John 12:28). In response to Jesus' prayer, a phonation from sky said, "I have glorified it, and will glorify information technology again." Spending a concluding few minutes with His disciples on the night of His arrest, Jesus prayed an extended prayer known today every bit His "high priestly prayer" (John 17) on behalf of His own, those given to Him by the Father (verse vi). In this prayer, Jesus is the Intercessor for His children (cf. Hebrews vii:25). He prays "not . . . for the earth, but for those yous take given me, for they are yours" (poetry ix). He prays that they would take His joy (verse xiii) and that God would keep them from the evil ane (verse fifteen). He prays for His own to be sanctified past the truth, which is the Word of God (verse 17), and to exist unified in that truth (verses 21–23). In the John 17 prayer, Jesus looks to the future and includes all those who would e'er believe in Him (poetry 20).

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest (Matthew 26:36–46). He had asked His disciples to pray with Him, but they fell asleep instead. Jesus' aching prayer in the garden is a model of submission and cede: "My Father, if information technology is possible, may this cup exist taken from me. Still non every bit I will, merely equally you lot will" (verse 39). Three times Jesus prayed this.

Jesus even prayed from the cross, in the midst of His desperation. His commencement prayer echoes Psalm 22:i and expresses His deep distress: "About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud vocalisation, 'Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?' (which means "My God, my God, why have you lot forsaken me?") (Matthew 27:46). Jesus besides prayed for the forgiveness of those who were torturing Him to death: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). In His last breath, Jesus continued to express His faith in God: "Father, into your easily I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).

Several themes are apparent in Jesus' prayers. One is the giving of thanks to the Father. Praise was a regular function of Jesus' prayers. Another theme is His communion with the Male parent; His relationship with His heavenly Father naturally resulted in His want to spend time communicating with Him. The third theme in Jesus' prayers is His submission to the Father. Our Lord'south prayers were always in accord with God's will.

Simply as Jesus gave thanks, nosotros should in all things pray with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:half-dozen–7). As God'southward adopted children, we should naturally desire to talk to God (Ephesians 3:12). And in everything nosotros should seek the Lord'due south will in a higher place our own. Jesus prayed in a variety of settings, public and private. He prayed in times of joy and times of sorrow. He prayed for Himself, and He prayed for others. He prayed to limited thank you, to petition for needs, and to commune with His Begetter. Jesus ready the example of how we should trust God, submit to God, and seek fellowship with God.

To this day, Jesus continues to pray for His own from His exalted position in heaven at the right hand of God. Scripture says He makes intercession for those who belong to Him (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; i John 2:1). It is significant that, at Jesus' ascension, He was taken abroad from His disciples into sky "while he was approving them" (Luke 24:51). That blessing has never stopped. Jesus will continue to anoint those who come to God through organized religion in Christ until He comes again.

Render to:
Questions nearly Prayer

What can nosotros larn from the prayers that Jesus prayed?

This folio final updated: January 4, 2022