![]() Jesus would get away from everyone to spend time in solitude with the Father. Jesus liked to go to a desolate place to pray Luke 5:16 describes this as his custom. Later that night, as the disciples are struggling to cross the sea, Jesus comes to them walking on the water. Matthew 14:23 and Mark 6:46 record him again up on a mountain, praying deep into the night. Praying through the night shows Jesus’ need for discernment in these important decisions. In Luke 6:12, Jesus spends all night praying on a mountain before choosing his disciples. Here we learn about Jesus’ favorite times and locations to pray. In addition to these moments of greatness, the Gospels record everyday, regular habits of prayer. Prayer precedes ministry, expresses relationship, and forms the foundation for acts of glory and power. They show how many great events are preceded by or concurrent with Jesus praying. These events should impress upon us the connection between Jesus’ prayer and his ministry. We also see Jesus praying before performing many of his miracles. During this prayer, Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John (Luke 9:28). A third major event occurred as Jesus was praying on a mountain. Jesus also prays during his baptism in Luke 3:21 as the Holy Spirit descends and the Father pronounces his pleasure. This not only prepared him for Satan’s temptations but also served as preparation for his three-year ministry. In Matthew 4:1-2, Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness in fasting and prayer. Jesus approaches every major event with prayer. For this we have to look to other Gospel texts. They don’t tell us much about Jesus’ regular habits of prayer. While we can learn much about Jesus’ relationship with the Father through these two prayers, they seem to be extreme examples. In the end, he models submission to the Father’s will. Jesus sweating drops of blood demonstrates the extreme tension of this moment as he struggles before God with the reality of his impending betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion. Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, and Luke 22:39-46 all record the intensity of Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. The second extended prayer happened just a short time later that night. Through it they learned of their connection to the Father through unity with Jesus – a profound truth that still brings comfort and courage to followers of Christ. This prayer was also for the benefit of the disciples. John 17, also known as Jesus’ high priestly prayer, records an intimate moment between Father and Son. Two times the Gospel authors record the extended content of Jesus’ prayers – both from the night he was betrayed. ![]()
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