Three Special Prayers of Christ
By E. HILLIARD
AMONG the many petitions that our Saviour offered, there are three that should especially cheer the heart of every child of God. One prayer was answered immediately, one in a few days, and one remains yet unanswered. His submissive prayer offered in Gethsemane, under the weight of the world’s sin, “Not My will, but Thine, be done,” was answered immediately. His mental agony was intense; but the more He suffered, the more fervently He prayed. In response to His prayer, “there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.” When the pressure became so great that the blood began to press through the pores of His face, the record says, “Being in agony He prayed more earnestly.” What a lesson for us, when our trials seem too heavy for our frail natures to bear, to pray more ardently! Like Jacob of old, we should declare, with penitent hearts, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.” Such prayers and such perseverance will be recognized by Heaven and immediately answered. His prayer on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” was answered in about fifty days. On the day of Pentecost, Peter, in his discourse to the multitude, exclaimed, “God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2: 36, 37. “Repent,” said Peter, “and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. . . . Then they that gladly received his word were baptized,” and in one day three thousand were added to the church. Verses 38, 41. What a cross for them to acknowledge their guilt, and be baptized in the name of the One they had helped to put to death as an impostor! How improbable it must have seemed to the disciples standing by the cross, that the Master’s prayer for the forgiveness of His slayers would ever be answered! After our Saviour’s resurrection and ascension, He presented to His Father the hands they had pierced, and pleaded for their forgiveness. The Spirit descended, their hearts were touched, they repented, and were freely pardoned. That prayer, offered in the agonies of death, so expressive of the Saviour’s love, was answered at the opportune moment. Again: In the model prayer that Christ taught His disciples is the expression: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Nearly two thousand years have passed, and still this part of the prayer remains unanswered. The will of God is fully done in heaven. There all love, worship, and obey our heavenly Father. Not so on earth. Here men profane and disobey. But the time is coming when our earth will be purified by fire (2 Peter 3:9-12), and renewed by creative power. Then it will become the abode of none but the righteous.