You can tell a lot about a man by his prayer life; his priorities, his fears, his dreams… those things that matter the most to him in the depths of his very being. To listen to a man’s prayers is to hear the cry of his very soul. The prayer life of Jesus was no exception.
Luke 22:39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. [40] On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." [41] He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, [42] "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." [43] An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. [44] And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
This passage speaks very strongly of his humanity and his courage. He knew what was coming next. He knew the indescribable pain and suffering he was about to endure on the cross. It is only natural to want to be free of that burden. Still, he had the courage to say "not my will, but yours be done"; to demonstrate the strength of character to do what must be done no matter the cost or loss. How many of us can say the same of ourselves?
John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. [2] For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. [3] Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. [4] I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. [5] And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
John 17:6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. [7] Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. [8] For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. [9] I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. [10] All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. [11] I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. [12] While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
John 17:13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. [14] I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. [15] My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. [17] Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. [18] As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. [19] For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
John 17:20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: [23] I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
John 17:25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. [26] I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
There is no prayer in the Bible that so clearly proclaims the heart of God as this one. He loves us more that we can humanly fathom. He desires a close relationship with each and every on of us - a friendship with us that is closer than we could have ever imagined possible. This is the whole reason Jesus came and gave his life on Calvary’s cross; to bridge the gap sin created between God and man; to enable us to really know God and be forever with Him. More than that, he prayed for unity and our protection. He knew we are only human and can easily be divided by petty things. He knew the trouble that would befall us is this life and he prayed to see us through it… not around, not over, but through the refiners fire that we may be made pure.
Below are more of the prayers that Jesus prayed. As you look them up and read them, ask yourself what they reveal about His character.
Matthew 19:13-15
Matthew 26:36-45
Luke 9:28-36
Luke 22:31-32
John 11:41-44
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