Your ShelfYour Projects

OUR SAVIOUR'S PRAYERS

5%

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1880

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 6, No. 23.

Read the full edition

OUR SAVIOUR'S PRAYERS.

The inspired record shows that our Saviour's life abounded in prayer to his Heavenly Father.
He is first presented to us at prayer, at the very beginning of his ministerial work: "Being baptized, and praying, the Heaven was opened." Luke 3:21.
He next appears at prayer in the course of his sermon on the mount, when he first delivered the "Lord's prayer." Matt. 6:9.
Later in his history, on a different occasion, we find him repeating essentially the same form of prayer. Luke 11:1.
About the beginning of his miracles, after great success, he goes out into a mountain near Capernaum, a great while before day, to pray. Mark 1:35.
When his enemies were powerfully stirred up against him, he spent a whole night in prayer, and the following day called his twelve apostles. Luke 6:12.
At another time his history presents him in the wilderness, praying. Luke 5:16.
Again the scene is Jesus alone, praying. Luke 9:18.
Again he is surrounded by a great multitude; mothers present their little ones, asking him to put his hands upon them and pray. Matt. 19:13-25.
After feeding the five thousand with the five loaves, we find him withdrawing in the evening to a mountain near the Sea of Galilee, and spending a greater part of the night; (about 3 o'clock A. M.) he came to his disciples, walking on the sea. Matt. 14:23-25.
At the grave of Lazarus, deeply sympathizing with the bereaved, we hear him groaning (probably mentally praying), and then making a prayer of thanksgiving. John 11:33, 38, 41, 42.
The next scene of prayer is upon a mountain near the Sea of Galilee, at the time of his transfiguration. "He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistening." Luke 9:28, 29.
Next, a few days before his death, he prays and is answered by an audible voice from Heaven. John 12:17, 28.
The fullest of all his prayers on record, is that one just after he had instituted the supper, and at the close of his sermon. John 17.
Next, the scene is in the dark retired walks of Gethsemane. Alone, at a little distance from Peter and James and John, at the critical period of redemption, with the most urgent entreaty, and yet with submission to the divine will, he prays three times. Matt. 26:39-44.
Last of all on the cross, he prays for his enemies, "Father, forgive them," etc., and then prayerfully commends his spirit into the hands of his Father. Luke 23:34, 46.
After the resurrection, on four occasions, we find him pronouncing a blessing upon his disciples. Such was the last act of his life on earth. "He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into Heaven." Luke 24:50, 51.
We may observe that his prayers were often made alone, sometimes where two or three were met together, sometimes in a larger social circle, and sometimes in the great congregation. He prayed when temptations were before him, after great successes, in times of deep trial, and when he was about to accomplish some important work.
As our High Priest, he has now entered into the most holy place, within the true tabernacle, and there "he ever liveth to make intercession" for us.
When he taught that "men ought always to pray," he was himself practicing what he preached to us, and as he taught so much both by precept and example, and the Bible introduces the subject so many hundreds of times, and under so great a variety of forms, prayer must be a momentous agency in the economy of grace. "Lord, teach us to pray."— S. F. T., Am. Mess.