How Did Jesus Pray for Himself and His Disciples?
Bible Study Guide
(Verses 1-4) Jesus taught very explicitly on how we ought to pray.
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)
Just as our relationship with our Lord and Savior is a very personal and intimate one, so should our prayers be a time of quiet solitude and focus in a personal setting.
There is no biblical command by God that we ought to pray in public. This does not mean that we shouldn’t pray in public. It means that there is no ordained requirement by God to do so except in a private and personal manner.
When praying in public, we should be cautious as to where our thoughts and the focus of our heart is pointing. It must be with deep sincerity and our minds focused on Him who created us. This can be difficult to do in public because of anxieties of praying in the midst of others impacts many people.
Our Savior doesn’t ask us to be eloquent in our prayers. Paul understood this because even he recognized that he was not one who spread the gospel with eloquent words.
“And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1)
Why Did Jesus Pray?
Christ just finished explaining to His disciples that everything He told them was to not only to prepare them for what was to come, but also to impart on them His joy. The joy of knowing no matter what’s to come, He has overcome all of it and more.
Now that their Messiah has done everything He can according to the Father to prepare them for the very difficult days ahead of them, He does what we are called to do often. He prays.
Within the close personal confines of the upper room, heaven’s Perfect Lamb begins to pray out loud in the presence of His chosen disciples.
Jesus demonstrates to us that when we’ve done all we can do, we then turn to the Father and make our requests know to Him so that He will give what we ask for in His name and according to His will.
Their Savior is essentially putting into practice what He has been commanding them to do over the last several recorded chapters of John’s gospel.
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16)
“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 16:23)
He’s teaching us and His disciples to pray in His name and in accordance with God’s will so that it should be fulfilled for us.
How Did Jesus Pray?
In this passage and throughout His ministry, the Son of God unceasingly called on the Father in thanks and praise. He looked for guidance in strength in fulfilling the will of God. Never asking for what He himself desired, but for what God wanted to accomplish through him.
Paul reminded his followers in Thessalonica of this important way to pray in his first letter to the Thessalonians.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Does this mean that we should be found in our rooms on our knees constantly praying? No!
Paul was reminding his believing followers that if we are true Christians and citizens of heaven and not of this world, then our thoughts should be of heavenly things. This should be a daily practice from the time we awake to when we close our eyes to sleep.
With every prompting of the Holy Spirit, we turn our hearts to God for a moment of praise, worship, strengthening or request. During any and all daily activity, turning our hearts and minds to God in private moments is what Paul is speaking of.
This is the way Jesus prayed and it’s how we should pray also.
How Did Jesus Begin to Pray for Himself?
All true believing Christians will follow in the steps of Christ. The same steps that will lead us through glorification and into the arms of Christ. There will only be two paths for believers.
First, those who experience the first death (falling asleep) and then the rapture and glorification of the body. Second, those who will be alive on earth at the time of the rapture, will be caught up (raptured) and glorified to go and be with the Lord.
We see the Savior begin by making this request of glorification as He is about to experience the first glorification and ascension into heaven. Thus blazing the trail for us from flesh to a glorified body. Thereby making a pathway for us back to Him and the Father in the same manner.
Glorification is the third phase of the three steps in the Christian journey. A journey that begins with justification. The justification of hearts by God as true believers and followers of Christ. Then followed by our sanctification through the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. This eventually leads us to glorification.
(Verse 5) Jesus reminds us that Christ was with God from the very beginning. He didn’t come into existence at His birth through Mary and the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ takes us back to His existence before the creation of the world.
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