What can be learned from the prayers Jesus prayed? from Compelling Truth
Jesus taught us the importance of prayer, the object of prayer, and much about how to pray.
Jesus often spent time with God the Father by going away from His followers (Luke 5:16). This should teach us the necessity of spending time praying. We are invited and encouraged to talk with God (Hebrews 4:16).
When His disciples asked Him how to pray, Jesus gave them a simple prayer as a model. Luke 11:1–4 records, “Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ And he said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation'” (see also Matthew 6:9–13).
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We love helping others and believe that’s one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve God’s children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
Jesus teaches that we should address God as “Father” and honor Him. The first request is that God’s will is done, then He models for us asking for what we need in the immediate, then our relationship with Him and others, and then help in seeking righteousness.
Jesus prayed His longest recorded prayer, known as the high priestly prayer, in John 17 as He interceded for His disciples and for those who would come to believe in Him (i.e., us!). The themes of that prayer are the joy (John 17:13), protection (John 17:15), sanctification (John 17:17), and unity (John 17:21–23) of the His followers. Should we not pray the same?
Jesus also prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21–22), the night before He chose the apostles (Luke 6:12), as He fed the 5,000 (Luke 9:16) and the 4,000 (Matthew 15:36), and during the transfiguration (Luke 9:29).
When He approached the tomb of His friend Lazarus, He prayed (John 11:41–42). Jesus said this prayer was specifically for the benefit of those who heard it, so they would know the Father had heard Him.
