The Prayers

Communing With God

Lord, teach us to pray.—Luke 11:1

All Scriptural quotations are from the New King James Version Bible unless otherwise noted.

Andrew Polychronis

One cannot help but be impressed by the prayer life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only did he frequently pray in the presence of his disciples, he often separated himself from his followers where in quietness and solitude he communed with his heavenly father.

On one such occasion when Jesus had finished praying “in a certain place,” a disciple, undoubtedly impressed by our Lord’s prayer life, asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” It was then that Jesus gave his disciples, and us, the well-beloved model prayer recorded in Luke 11:2-4.

More prayers of Jesus are recorded in Luke’s gospel than in any other. Even so the principle enunciated in John’s gospel concerning the miracles of Jesus can be applied equally to his prayers: “There are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” (John 21:25).

Certainly not all of our Lord’s prayers have been recorded. For example, after he was baptized by John at Jordan, he was led into the wilderness by the holy spirit. There he remained forty days and nights, being tempted by the adversary. Matthew tells us Jesus fasted during this time. When he finished his testing, “angels came and ministered to him” (see Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). During this time of fasting and temptation Jesus must have been in constant communion with his father although nothing is said in the record. On many occasions we are simply told that Jesus went apart to pray; nothing is said about the subject of his prayers. “He himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16). One thing we know for certain: much of our Lord’s time on earth was spent in intimate communion with his father.

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while he prayed, the heaven was opened. And the holy spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven which said, You are my beloved son; in you I am well pleased.—Luke 3:21,22

This is the first time Luke mentions our Lord praying, and appropriately, it is at his baptism. Although the other three gospels also record our Lord’s baptism, only Luke mentions that Jesus was praying. It immediately precedes a period of fasting and temptation in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. Although we are not told for what Jesus was praying, we do know that his prayer received an instant answer and affirmation. The heavens opened and Jesus was imbued with the power of the holy spirit. He also received his father’s profound benediction as well: “You are my beloved son; in you I am well pleased.” Jesus was more than able to endure the forty days and nights of fasting and testing. Not only was he victorious, we are told that he returned from the wilderness “in the power of the spirit” (Luke 4:14).

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

Jesus was engulfed in a wave of great popularity. Recognizing the danger of fame and esteem, and wanting only to honor and glorify his father, Jesus withdrew from the crowds, went into the desert, and communed with his father there. Such withdrawals into the wilderness to pray were habitual. If Jesus, the perfect son of God, found it necessary to retreat frequently to the wilderness to pray, how much more should we! No wonder we are admonished by the apostle Paul to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

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. And when it was day, he called his disciples to himself; and from them he chose twelve whom he also named apostles.—Luke 6:12,13

Because of the formidable task of choosing the twelve apostles, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer. Recognizing the supreme importance of carefully and appropriately selecting twelve men who would fulfill the divine plans and purposes of God, Jesus was unwilling to execute this task by himself. So he earnestly prayed all night, seeking wisdom and guidance from his father. What a marvelous example for all true believers. For any decision in our personal lives, within our families, and indeed within our ecclesias, we must constantly seek divine guidance, wisdom, and the leading that comes from above.

The apostle Paul writes, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7).

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.—Luke 9:16

Jesus was thankful to God for the physical provision of the five loaves and the two fish. This certainly is in keeping with his instructions to his disciples, and to us, given in his model prayer when he taught us to pray: “Give us day by day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). As children of God we must learn to be grateful and thankful for every “good and perfect gift” that comes from the hands of a loving, kind, and merciful father. Implicit in our Lord’s prayer of gratitude is the need for a miracle to multiply the loaves and fish to feed the five thousand.

As he was alone praying, his disciples joined him, and he asked them, saying, Who do the crowds say that I am?—Luke 9:18

The twelve had returned from a successful mission of “preaching the gospel and healing everywhere” (Luke 9:6). Jesus and the twelve had just fed the five thousand who had gathered to hear Jesus and be healed of their infirmities. There was so much to be thankful for. And so Jesus, as he was so often, “was alone praying.” Weighing heavily on his mind was the concern of whether the disciples truly understood who he was, and what his relationship was to God. So when the disciples joined him, he asked a profound question in two parts: “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (verse 18) and “Who do you say that I am?” (verse 20). Peter’s response elicits a most stupendous reaction from Jesus: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).

Just as there was mass confusion concerning his identity among the “crowds” in Jesus’ day, that confusion continues today among the vast majority of Christendom.

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that he took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As he prayed, the appearance of his face was altered, and his robe became white and glistening.—Luke 9:28, 29

Although both Matthew and Mark describe the transfiguration scene, neither mentions Jesus praying. According to Luke, it is while Jesus is praying that the transfiguration occurs. What a spectacular sight this incredible vision must have been for the three chosen by Jesus to witness the glory of God’s coming kingdom (verse 27)! Here was the glorified Christ—“King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16), resplendent in power and glory! And in the vision he was seen with Moses and Elijah, perhaps representing the Jewish and Gospel age overcomers.

It came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, that one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.—Luke 11:1

The prayer life of Jesus was a powerful example to his followers. They wanted to experience a similar intimate relationship with God as they witnessed in Jesus, hence their request: “Lord, teach us to pray.” The prayer that Jesus suggested is not only a prayer after which our prayers should be modeled, it is a prayer remarkable in its brevity, powerful in its intended purpose, and sublime in its adoration of and petitions to the heavenly father.

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

What a loving and merciful Savior! Knowing full well that Satan would brutally “sift” Peter in the crucible of fire, and that Peter would deny him three times, Jesus said to him, “But I have prayed for you.” Prayed for what? That Peter would not deny him? Emphatically, not! Jesus, knowing the end from the beginning, was fully aware of precisely what Peter needed to experience to become the steadfast, immovable pillar of the early church that Peter ultimately became. Rather, Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith should not fail. As profoundly devastating as that experience was for Peter (see Luke 22:60-62), it was one he had to go through.

The second part of our Lord’s prayer for Peter is equally powerful and magnificent: “When you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren.” This is precisely what happened. When Peter returned to Jesus in the full power of the holy spirit at Pentecost, not only did his ministry strengthen his brethren in the early church, but through his ministry recorded in the book of Acts, plus his two powerful and spiritually motivating general epistles, he has been strengthening his brethren for nearly two thousand years! What sublime and blessed assurance we can have that in every experience God allows in our lives, our advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, is praying that our faith fail not, that the experience will not only strengthen our own personal spiritual walk but will encourage and strengthen our brethren as well.

Then he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.—Luke 22:17-19

In establishing the memorial of his death, Jesus draws inner strength from his father as he gives thanks for the cup representing his imminent suffering as well as his precious blood shed on the cross at Calvary. Similarly, he gives thanks for the bread which typifies his body, broken for us, that we through his death might have life by being fully reconciled to God. (The even deeper significance of the bread and wine is explained by Jesus in John 6:26-63.)

Coming out, he went to the Mount of Olives, as he was accustomed, and his disciples also followed him. When he came to the place, he said to them, Pray that you may not enter into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, saying, Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done. Then an angel appeared to him from heaven strengthening him. And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. Then his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When he rose up from prayer, and had come to his disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow. Then he said to them, Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.—Luke 22:39-46

Having established his memorial supper and having finished the extended conversations and discussions that occurred that night, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and entered the Garden of Gethsemene. His disciples followed. First our Lord entreats the disciples to “pray lest you enter into temptation.” Then he withdrew from them a distance, knelt down, and prayed. While praying in Gethsemene (the name means “oil press”), Jesus began to feel the pressing weight and agony of what he was about to experience. He would be taking the seemingly unbearable weight of the sins of the world on his shoulders. He would shortly experience not only the excruciating physical pain of hanging on a cross, but the humiliation of being on a cross, for “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). The ultimate pain would be experienced when his father’s communion with him would be momentarily broken as he was about to give up his last breath as the ransom sacrifice for the sins of the world. This would elicit from his lips those haunting words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Is it any wonder that in Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.”

Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit. Having said this, he breathed his last.—Luke 23:34,46

Both these prayers were uttered from the cross. Although one early manuscript omits the statement “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do,” it is appropriate to consider the sentiments and significance of the prayer, knowing our Lord’s intense teachings on the importance of forgiveness. In his model prayer, Jesus taught us all to pray: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Jesus then further expounds on this important teaching: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:12,14,15). The second brief prayer reveals our Lord’s complete faith, trust, and confidence in his father. Having finished his father’s work on earth completely and perfectly, he commits his life to God knowing that in three days his father would raise him from the dead and crown him with honor, glory, and immortality.

Now it came to pass, as he sat at the table with them, that he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. … And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while he blessed them, that he was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.—Luke 24:30,50-53

The prayer habits of Jesus continued into his risen life. Accepting the hospitality of the two he met on the road to Emmaus, he gave thanks for the evening meal. Finally, as he left his followers, he lifted up his hands as high priest and blessed them: he was carried into heaven with uplifted hands.

Our Lord’s prayer-life continues on our behalf, as our advocate and high priest. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).