Becoming Like Jesus: Prayer in the Life of Jesus

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Bruce Reeves | Conway, Arkansas

Jesus was not only the Master Teacher; He was also the Master of prayer. He prayed so frequently and faithfully that Luke records that after He finished praying in a certain place one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1). There are times when we should turn to God in prayer, but don’t. Thus, it is very helpful to consider the moments when Jesus turned to His Father in prayer. While prayer was a constant spiritual discipline in Christ’s life, there were pivotal moments when prayer was a significant source of power for Him. By considering Jesus’s example we can follow our Savior more fervently and deeply in our prayer life.

Jesus Prayed in Preparation for His Ministry

Luke records that immediately following Jesus’s baptism, He was “praying” to His Father (Luke 3:21-22). The various accounts of the baptism of Christ emphasize themes of His ministry. Matthew’s account focuses on the Lord’s determination to do the will of God (Matthew 3:15), Mark highlights the actions of Jesus in coming all the way from Nazareth in Galilee to be baptized of John (Mark 1:9-10), Luke concentrates on the role of Jesus’s prayer and the descent of the Holy Spirit in the Lord’s ministry (Luke 3:21-22), and John dealt with the significant events surrounding His baptism as Messiah (John 1:29-34).
It is “while He was praying” that “heaven was opened” (Luke 3:21). In that moment “the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased’” (Luke 3:22). At His baptism, God offered visible and audible affirmation of His Son in the descent and remaining presence of the Holy Spirit in the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (John 1:32-34; cf. Isaiah 11:1-5; 42:1; 61:1-3; Matthew 4:1; 12:28; Luke 4:1, 14; John 3:33; Acts 10:38).

It is helpful to notice what the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were doing in Christ’s baptism as He prayed. The Father was confirming His Son’s mission, purpose, and relationship with Him. Jesus was trusting, obeying, serving, and praying. The Holy Spirit was affirming, empowering, equipping, and proclaiming Jesus as God’s divine Son. While, this was unique to Christ’s life and mission, what should we learn? We are not going to just wing it on our own, we are working with God and He is working through us (2 Corinthians 6:1). When we are embarking on life-changing work in the lives of others – let’s pray. When we are serving the family of God, let’s pray. When challenging tasks are before us – let’s pray. Whether it is sharing the gospel with others, entering marriage, having children, or beginning a new chapter of life, it is time to pray for God’s strength and grace. Such prayers will keep our eyes heavenward!

Jesus Prayed Before Major Decisions

Before the Lord chose His disciples, He “went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12-13). Luke emphasizes several important aspects to Jesus’s prayer before this decisive moment in His life. First, “prayer” is mentioned twice in one verse. Secondly, the writer reveals that Christ went to the mountain for the purpose of being alone with His Father. Also, Luke discloses the intensity of His prayer by highlighting its duration, “He spent the whole night in prayer to God.”

Why did Jesus pray so intensely for the selection of His disciples? He prayed for the work they were to do, for their strength in times of disappointment and trial, for their need to grow in faith and love, for their obedience to His word, and their reliance and trust in God when adversaries persecuted them.

When we have major decisions before us, we must fervently and faithfully pray to the Lord (Philippians 4:6-7). How many times do we make critical decisions without praying to Him? Our God is involved in our lives providentially and provides the blessings and wisdom we need. Prayer both produces and is nourished by spiritual strength, discernment, and a focused mind (Ephesians 6:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Peter 4:7). Are we truly relying on God in our prayers when we are making choices that will influence not only ourselves, but also many others (James 4:13-17)? Are we praying for elders, preachers, teachers, parents, and fellow-Christians?

Jesus Prayed with and for His Disciples

The Lord was going up to a mountain with Peter, James, and John to pray when the transfiguration took place (Luke 9:28-37). Likewise, Jesus reassured and prayed for His disciples shortly before His departure from this world (John 14:1-2; 16:7-14; 17:9-10, 20-21). There is something extremely powerful about praying with and for others. The Scriptures describe different aspects of our prayers. We read of “prayers” in general, “thanksgiving” for our blessings, “supplications,” i.e., expressing our deepest needs to God, and “intercessions” on the behalf of others before the presence of the Lord (Philippians 1:3; 4:4-9; 1 Timothy 2:1-5). Knowing that God’s family is praying for our faith, perseverance, and spiritual resolve is an immeasurable blessing from the Lord (Ephesians 3:14-21). In our moments of pain, sorrow, and grief our brothers and sisters are there to pray with and for us. We gather together with one heart and soul as God’s people in prayer before the throne of God (Acts 2:42; 4:32).

Jesus Prayed in Times of Emotional Distress

Even when Christ was in the most intense agony He was concerned about His disciples’ spiritual strength. Jesus encouraged His disciples to do what He was doing and that was “pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40-41, 46). Luke indicates that the disciples were asleep or exhausted from sorrow. Perhaps, their emotions had overwhelmed them because Jesus had told them He would have to depart from them. When we are sad, sorrowful, and emotionally exhausted Satan will attempt to attack our vulnerabilities to overcome our spiritual alertness and principles. If Jesus found it necessary to pray, should we not be praying in our moments of emotional distress? Consider the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

It is amazing to see Jesus’s trust and dependence on the Father in His prayers in the crucible of His heart-wrenching sorrow. The Scripture says, “And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground” (Luke 22:44). Christ was successful against the wicked one through His reliance on the Father’s purpose. The angel of God came to strengthen Him to do God’s will, not remove obedience to God. Interestingly, it is after the angel comes that Jesus continues to pray more fervently and feel intense agony. The term “agony” refers to intense struggle with sorrow and distress (Luke 22:44). Matthew also accentuates the depth of Jesus’s emotions when he describes Him as being “grieved,” i.e., “to be sad, to be extremely sorrowful.” We also read of Christ as having been “distressed” or “troubled,” “in anxiety,” or “to be very heavy” (Matthew 26:36). It is as if Jesus was saying, “I am so sad and sorrowful I feel like I am going to die” (Matthew 26:38). Yet, the Hebrew writer would describe Jesus’s agonizing grief in the context of “godly fear” or “reverent submission” (Hebrews 5:7). Prayer ensures that we navigate our suffering through godly fear and faith.

Jesus Prayed When He Was Facing His Death

The prayers of Jesus on the cross are very revealing and instructive. Christ kept God and Scripture at the very center of His suffering and sacrifice (Matthew 27:46). He prayed for those who hurt Him to repent and receive God’s forgiveness (Luke 23:34). Even in his very last moments he fully surrendered His life into the hands of God and completion of the will of God (Luke 23:46; John 19:30). Someone may say, “But this was Jesus!” Yet, Stephen in his last moments had a forgiving spirit like Jesus and Peter encourages believers to follow in the footsteps of our Savior (Acts 7:59-60; 1 Peter 2:21-25).

Oh, that in our last moments godly thoughts and words can be on our lips in our prayer to the Father. Jesus died as He lived, that is in faithfulness and devotion to God. Christ not only prayed in his last moments, but He also prayed throughout His life. People who pray, trust, and obey the Lord throughout their lives will do so in death. Let’s follow Jesus’s example in turning to God in prayer. Paul writes, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints…” (Ephesians 6:18).

January 2024 | GROW magazine