It is hard for us to fathom how Jesus could be in perfect harmony with the Father, how He can know all things and have all power, and yet spend much time in prayer.
Our prayers are usually in response to a need we have. We spend more time asking God for things than we do praising, thanking, and confessing to Him. Many use prayer as a last resort for their needs. However, that was never God’s intent. He wants us to always communicate with Him. We are to be so connected to Him that we are aware of His presence everywhere. Jesus is our example, and He is always connected to the Father.
The New Testament has prayers from Jesus scattered throughout it. Jesus teaches us about prayer by His example. In John chapter 11, Lazarus’s sisters summoned Jesus to come because Lazarus was sick and at death’s door. When Jesus arrived, Lazarus was already dead and buried. It was a scene of pain and anguish that Jesus experienced when He saw Martha and Mary. He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, but they didn’t. He prayed aloud for their benefit.
John 11:41-43 “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou heard me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”
In John chapter 17, Jesus prays for the church. The church is a body of believers, not a building. In verse 11 Jesus asks the Father to keep them, to protect them, to defend and preserve them. He prays they will be united. In verse 17, Jesus asks the Father to sanctify them. Sanctification is a process. He asks that the word of God continue to make them pure and fit for the kingdom. In verse 19, Jesus says his sanctification, or consecration is exclusively to the service of God the Father. It does not mean He needed personal sanctification because He had no sin. It simply meant He was setting Himself apart for the work of redemption. They were to see His example and use that to further the ministry. It is vital to winning the lost, that the church remains pure.
In John 17:20 Jesus changes gears. He now prays for all who would believe in Him for salvation. He was praying for us!
John 17:11 “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”
John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
John 17:19 “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”
John 17:20 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word”
In John 12:27-28, Jesus knows that He is getting nearer to His death on the cross. The thought of what was going to happen caused Him to be troubled. He asks the Father to save Him from this hour, and then He resolves to His purpose, and the Father speaks. He will be glorified by the death of His Son. The human side of Jesus was in agony, but He was willing to bear any suffering so that God would be honored. This is an example to us that the glory of God is to be the result of our sufferings, our triumphs, and our actions.
John 12:27-28 “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed for a long time. Long enough for His disciples to take naps, be woken up, then take another one. We don’t know all the words of Jesus’ prayer, but in Matthew 26:29 He begged the Father to take this cup of death from Him. In verse 42 He yields His Spirit and His will to the will of the Father.
Matthew 26:39 “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”
I am so thankful for the avenue of prayer, to be able to talk to the one who gave His life for me, the one who created everything, the one who loves me more than anyone else ever could. I am also very thankful that when Jesus went back to Heaven, He took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father and is there interceding for me, and to know His interceding is infinite.
Romans 8:34 “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that comes unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Jesus gives us an example to live by. We should be praying constantly. Our minds can be in tune with God even though we are busy doing other things. However, we need to take time in every day to talk to God. We need to praise Him, confess our sins to Him, thank Him, and seek Him for our needs and the needs of others. After all, why wouldn’t you want to spend time with someone who loves you this much?
