What can be learned from the prayers Jesus prayed?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

We can learn much from the prayers Jesus prayed throughout His ministry. First, He made a habit of escaping to a secret place to talk to His Heavenly Father (Luke 5:16). This emphasizes the intimacy in relationship that God desires to have with us and how much of a priority we should make when it comes to spending time with Him. Yet Jesus also at times prayed in the presence of others to benefit them and direct them to God (John 11:41–42). This helps remind us what the purpose of public prayer is—not to bring glory to us but to bring glory to God through extending His love to those around us. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus gives us a guide we can follow when it comes to addressing God and covering certain themes in our daily prayers. Then in John 17 Jesus prays the high priestly prayer in the presence of His disciples, in which He intercedes on behalf of His followers. We can follow His example in the sense of interceding for others to God. Overall, Jesus’ life is a testament of fervent prayer regardless of what moment, season of life, or trial He was presently in (Matthew 26:36–46; Matthew 27:46; Luke 3:21–22; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:29).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The prayers Jesus prayed are not found in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), 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 modeled the importance of praying during difficult times. He prayed as He prepared for His trial and crucifixion (Matthew 26:36–46) and even while He suffered on the cross (Matthew 27:46).
• Jesus also prayed during good times—praying at His baptism (Luke 3:21–22), the night before He chose the apostles (Luke 6:12), the time in which He fed the 5,000 (Luke 9:16), and during His transfiguration (Luke 9:29). Clearly, prayer was a continual habit for Jesus, and so it should be with us.
• In John 17, Jesus prayed the high priestly prayer, in which He interceded for His disciples and for those who would come to believe in Him (i.e., us!). The themes in this prayer are the joy (John 17:13), protection (John 17:15), sanctification (John 17:17), and unity (John 17:21–23) of His followers. We can still pray for these things in Jesus’ name.
• Jesus exemplified the priority that prayer should have in our life. He often spent time with God the Father by temporarily going away from His followers (Luke 5:16). This should teach us the necessity of spending time praying.
• Jesus showed that prayers said in the presence of others can at times be beneficial. For example, when He approached the tomb of His friend Lazarus, He prayed out loud (John 11:41–42), communicating that it was specifically for the benefit of those who heard it, so they would know the Father had heard Him.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Through studying Jesus’ examples of prayer, we see just how important of a spiritual discipline prayer truly is. One core thing Jesus continually demonstrates through His prayer is a steady reliance upon His relationship with the Father, which we should emulate in our life as well. Jesus also regularly prayed prayers of thanksgiving, and brought His burdens to God, and we can do the same (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18; Philippians 4:6–7). The amazing thing is that Jesus is still praying—interceding for us to God (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1). We, too, have the privilege of prayer, and are invited and encouraged to talk with God (Hebrews 4:14–16; Ephesians 6:18). There is no question that Jesus was a man of prayer or that we are called to be people of prayer.

UNDERSTAND

• Prayer is about relationship with God, not religious performance.
• Jesus modeled how to pray through both private devotion and public intercession.
• Prayer is essential in every season of life.

REFLECT

• How does viewing prayer as a relationship rather than a performance reshape the way you approach time with God?
• How do Jesus’ habits of prayer challenge how you prioritize prayer in your life?
• How might Jesus’ prayers in both suffering and joy influence what you bring before God in your current season?

ENGAGE

• How do Jesus’ prayers reveal what God values most in His relationship with His people?
• How should we uphold both private devotion and public intercession?
• How do the themes of unity, protection, and sanctification in John 17 shape how we should pray for the church today?