The Prayers of Jesus

2021-11-20

Jesus, the sinless Son of God, God in the flesh, needed to pray. This should put in perspective our need to pray. He was so confident in His prayers to the Father at Lazarus’ tomb that He said, “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me” (John 11:41). He was using this as a moment to teach everyone present to confirm who He was (John 11:42), but also that the Father hears His prayers. If we, being in Christ, pray to the Father, we can be confident that He will hear us as well.

Personal prayer time was important to the Son of God, as He went off privately to pray (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:46; Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28-29; 11:1). Jesus prayed for little children (Matthew 19:13). Jesus prayed in a great hour of need, in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-44; Mark 14:32-39; Luke 22:40-46).

In the High Priestly Prayer (John 17), Jesus prayed for believers down through the ages for their eternal life, that they would be kept of the Father, for their unity, and that through them, the world would know that He was sent of the Father.

Jesus prayed for His enemies on the cross: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). He committed Himself to the Father in His last breaths: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

If the Son of God needed prayer so much in His own life...