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Modeling the Prayer Life of Jesus

Luke 11:1

November 15, 2023 • Pastor Ludence Robinson

           And it came to pass, that as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.


MODELING THE PRAYER LIFE OF JESUS AS FOUND IN THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE


Luke here in this passage captures for us this marvelous moment. As the disciples were coveting the best that Jesus had to offer, besides himself – prayer. As they heard him pray, it made them desire, long, yearn, crave, and hunger for, a more profound prayer life like his. 


Notice that one of his disciples addressed Jesus “when he finished.” The disciple did not address him before he prayed nor while he was praying the text says, “when he finished, one of his disciples said to him.”  The disciple did not attempt to interrupt the master while he was praying, he waited until he was finished, and asked that he teach them to pray.


In the New Testament, the common word for prayer is referenced 84 times, and in Luke, the word occurs 34 times. Thus, the other 50 times when the word is mentioned, it’s shared among the other authors of the New Testament.


Luke is one of the few New Testament authors who have paid strict attention to prayer, besides Paul. He, a Gentile from birth, and a Roman citizen who understood how important it was to pray to the gods. Hence, after becoming a part of the Jewish sect (the band of followers who believed in Jesus of Nazareth), Luke saw prayer as more important now, than ever before.


Luke is the only one, out of all the other gospel writers to focus on the prayer life of Jesus. They all recorded Jesus’ principles on prayer, however only Luke gives us a glimpse into his posture in prayer. He recorded Jesus as praying more than any other gospel writer, more than Matthew, Mark, or John, all of whom have only mentioned Jesus’ prayer life in passing.


However, Luke records Jesus as always engaging in prayer. He paints Jesus as a Son in constant communion with his Father and as a man in constant communication with God.


Luke in particular draws attention to the gaps in our theology, the holes in our prayer life, and shows us how our prayer life pales in comparison to our Lord. He gives prayer its theological foundation and place in the divine son of God.


Many scholars have noted the uniqueness of Luke's account of the prayer life of Jesus. Luke has recorded 13 instances where Jesus engaged in prayer, seven of which are mentioned directly and three that are inferred. These 10 are exclusive to Luke’s narrative only and not found in the other gospel writers.

 

1.                       Luke alone mentions that as Jesus “was praying that heaven was opened” at his baptism (Luke 3:21).

2.                       Luke alone tells us that Jesus was praying alone in Caesarea Philippi, when he asked his disciples, "Who do the people say that I am?" (Luke 9:18).

3.                       Luke alone conveys to us that Jesus “took Peter, John, and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray” when he was transfigured (Luke 9:28,29).

4.                       Luke alone records the request of Jesus' disciples, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples" (Luke 11:1).

5.                       Luke alone points out two prayer parables, one of the boldness of a friend at midnight asking for bread (Luke 11:5-8), and the other a shameless widow begging the judge for justice (Luke 18:1-8).

6.                       Luke alone notes Jesus’ prayer for Peter that Satan would not "sift" him (Luke 22:31-32),

7.                       Luke alone talked about Jesus “being in anguish, prayed more earnestly” in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44)

8.                       Luke alone tells of Jesus' activity “each day…teaching in the temple and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the mount of Olives” (Luke 21:37).

9.                       Luke alone pens Jesus as saying “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

10.                    Luke alone pictures Jesus as crying “Out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (23:46).


But although scholars often point out the attention Luke gives to Jesus' prayers, only a few have attempted to dive into the reasons for this emphasis. This evening I will attempt to draw some practical principles to help us with/in our own prayer time, as we consider Jesus’ moments in prayer.


1.                       Luke records Jesus praying during his baptism (3:21-22)

 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,

 

2.                       Luke records Jesus praying after teaching the crowds (5:15-16)

Yet the news about him spread all the more so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

 

3.                       Luke records Jesus praying before choosing his disciples (6:12-16)

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

 

4.                       Luke records Jesus praying before inquiring about the reports concerning himself (9:18)

 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

 

5.                       Luke records Jesus praying before receiving instructions from his Father (9:28, 29)

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John, and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses, and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

 

6.                       Luke records Jesus praying in the company of his friends, before teaching them how to pray themselves (11:1-4).


One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.

 

7.                       Luke records Jesus as having prayed for Peter’s faith that it failed not (22:31-32)

 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

8.                       Luke records Jesus praying before facing the cruel Cross of Calvary (22:39-46)


Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

 

9.                       Luke records Jesus praying for his enemies as they crucified, sneered, and mocked him (23:33-36)

33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar.

 

10.                    Luke records Jesus praying before breathing his last, committing his life in the hands of God (23:44-46).


It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he said this, he breathed his last.

 

In summary

Pray to God before and after major milestones.

Pray to God before and after our interactions with people.

Pray to God before and after major decisions and/or choosing lifelong friends.

Pray to God before and after encountering the opinions of others.

Praying to God will radically transform our lives.

Praying to God along with others is a divine mandate for getting things done.

Praying to God fortifies our faith relationship with Him.

Praying to God gets us through the toughest and most trying times in our lives.

Prayers to God are to be offered on behalf of everyone.

Praying to God is the ultimate comfort to commit to when death looms on the horizon.