Jesus demonstrated great dependence on the Father which helped him fulfill his mission on earth. Prayer gave him strength to teach and heal, aided him in difficult decisions, and sustained him through the dark hours of temptation. Great things often happened when Jesus prayed. After Jesus was immersed, he prayed. At that time “heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased‘” (Luke 3:21, 22).
After the wilderness temptations, Jesus began to preach and teach. His message was accompanied by the casting out of demons and healing of all sicknesses. This ministry was surely draining for Jesus since people continually came to him with their physical and spiritual problems. After a healing episode, Jesus tried to get away: “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them” (4:42). The Savior retreated for both physical rest and spiritual revitalization: “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (5:16; see 9:10, 11).
Major decisions in the life of Christ were met with prayer. Jesus had already attracted a following of disciples. But it was time for him to designate leaders among them who would be his closest associates. “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles” (6:12, 13).
Later, while he was praying with his disciples, Jesus asked them about his identity. The disciples had heard Jesus teach and they had seen him perform miracles – but they had also heard his fervent prayers. “And He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ And Peter answered and said, ‘The Christ of God’” (9:20). After a few days, Jesus took the inner circle – Peter, James, and John – up on a mountain for the purpose of praying. Jesus was transformed before his sleepy disciples: “As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning” (9:29).
After hearing the Savior pray one day, the disciples asked Jesus to instruct them (11:1). Jesus also told them a parable about a persistent widow to encourage their prayer life and endurance (18:1-8). He upheld the sanctity of the temple based on the premise that it was to be a “house of prayer” (19:46). Jesus called his disciples to greater heights of prayer: “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man” (21:36).
It was also in the darkest of moments that Jesus fervently prayed. He prayed for Simon’s final outcome – that after he had fallen he would be restored to usefulness among the disciples (22:31, 32). Jesus prayed for himself – for the cup of suffering to be taken from him: “Father, if you are willing take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (22:42). In his submission, Jesus was strengthened by an angel and was empowered to endure the suffering of crucifixion. The Savior even prayed from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (23:34).
It’s not hard to look at the life of Jesus and see how important prayer is. It helps to connect you with the Father. It can bring strength and renewal. It can even be a way to convey your concerns or cares to God. Prayer will hopefully be as important to us as it is to Jesus. Hopefully we will have a continual practice of communication with our Lord each and every day.
