“During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death” (Hebrews 5:7). Jesus prayed.
Jesus was God. Jesus is God. He’s 100% God, and at the same time, 100% man. “He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created” and He “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:2-3, 14). He ruled and reigned in Heaven in “the form of God” but “He emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8).
Our Savior, our Lord and King, our Eternal High Priest is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses” because, as a man, He was “tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin”(Hebrews 4:15–16). As a man, Jesus prayed.
Jesus prioritized His prayer-life. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying” (Mark 1:35). When Peter and the other disciples got up, they apparently knew where they would find Him because “he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed” (Luke 5:16).
Once, “little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray.” Understandably, dads and moms wanted Jesus to pray for their kids! “The disciples rebuked them” for intruding on the Master’s busy schedule, but Jesus said, “leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me” (Matthew 19:13–15). Jesus was never too busy to pray! “After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:16). Jesus prayed for the big things and little things, even anonymous and insignificant little kids. I wonder, with the Savior’s blessings, what became of those kids?
Before Jesus fed five thousand men and their families, Jesus prayed. Much like we might pray before a meal, “He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. Everyone ate and was satisfied” (Mark 6:41–42).
After the miraculous feeding of the multitude, Jesus prayed again. “Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray”(Mark 6:45–46). Why? Because “Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself” (John 6:15).
Jesus is our model. He’s the perfect example. We too, should prioritize prayer.
“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).
All Scripture quotations, except as otherwise noted, are from
Holman Bible Publishers’ Christian Standard Bible.
