What can we learn from the prayers that Jesus prayed?

Answer

The prayers Jesus prayed provide us with insight into His nature, His heart, and His mission on earth. His prayers also educate and inspire us in our own prayer lives. More crucial than the location, timing, or posture of His prayers is the simple fact that He prayed. The content of His prayers offers guidance for all of us.

Prayer was a fundamental aspect of Jesus’ time on earth, and He prayed regularly: “Jesus often withdrew to solitary places and prayed” «And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. », (Luke 5:16). If the Son incarnate deemed it essential to communicate with the Father frequently, how much more should we do the same? Jesus encountered persecution, trials, heartache, and physical suffering. Without consistent and ongoing access to God’s throne, He would have undoubtedly found those challenges unbearable. Similarly, Christians must never overlook the need to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” «Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.», (Hebrews 4:16).

What is commonly referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer” is actually a teaching tool of Christ as part of His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13). In this exemplary prayer, Jesus instructs us to address God as “our Father”; to honor God’s name; to pray for God’s will; and to request daily sustenance, forgiveness, and spiritual protection.

In addition to His regular prayer times, Jesus prayed at significant events in His life: He prayed at His baptism (Luke

3:21-22); before feeding the 5,000 «Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and broke, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. », (Luke 9:16) and the 4,000 «And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and broke them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. », (Matthew 15:36); and at the moment of His transfiguration «And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistening. », (Luke 9:29). Before Jesus chose His twelve disciples, He “spent the night praying to God” on a mountainside «And it came to pass in those days, that he went out onto a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. », (Luke 6:12).

Jesus prayed at the return of the 72 disciples: “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do’” «In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in your sight. », (Luke 10:21).

Jesus prayed at Lazarus’ tomb. As they rolled away the stone from His friend’s tomb, “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit ofThe people standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me’” (John 11:41-42). This is a good example of a 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 death. As He spoke of His coming sacrifice, Jesus prayed a very short prayer: “Father, glorify your name!” «Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. », (John 12:28). In response to Jesus’ prayer, a voice from heaven said, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
Spending a last few minutes with His disciples on the night of His arrest, Jesus prayed an extended prayer known today as His “high priestly prayer” (John 17) on behalf of His own, those given to Him by the Father (verse 6). In this prayer, Jesus is the Intercessor for His children cf: Hebrews 7:25. He prays “not . . . for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours” (verse 9). He prays that they would have His joy (verse 13) and that God would keep them from the evil one (verse 15). He prays for His own to be sanctified by the truth, which is the Word of God (verse 17), and to be unified in that truth (verses 21–23). In the John 17 prayer, Jesus looks to the future and includes all those who would ever believe in Him (verse 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’ agonized prayer in the garden is a model of submission and sacrifice: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (verse 39). Three times Jesus prayed this.

Jesus even prayed from the cross, in theIn the midst of His agony, His first prayer echoes Psalm 22:1 and expresses His deep distress: “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?’ (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) «And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? », (Matthew 27:46). Jesus also prayed for the forgiveness of those who were torturing Him to death: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” «Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. », (Luke 23:34). In His final breath, Jesus continued to express His faith in God: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” «And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. », (Luke 23:46).

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

Just as Jesus gave thanks, we should in all things pray with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7). As God’s adopted children, we should naturally desire to talk to God «in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. », (Ephesians 3:12). And in everything, we should seek the Lord’s will above our own. Jesus prayed in various settings, both 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 express gratitude, to request for needs, and to commune with His Father. Jesus set 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 states that He intercedes for those who belong to Him (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1). It is noteworthy that, at Jesus’ ascension, He was taken away from His disciples into heaven “while he was blessing them” «And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. », (Luke 24:51). That blessing has never ceased. Jesus will continue to bless those who approach God through faith in Christ until He returns.