The Productive Prayer Life of the Lord Jesus Christ

The God-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, serves as the perfect example for church age believers in the use of prayer.

Therefore, let us learn how to have a productive prayer life from the Lord, Himself.

As Andrew Murray writes, “We are to enter the school of prayer with the Lord.”[1]

Some principles to note are: The Lord Jesus prayed in the morning (Luke 4:42).

Mark 1:35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. (NASB95)

The Lord Jesus Christ prayed in the evening (Mat 26:36-46).

Luke 6:12 It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. (NASB95)

The Lord Jesus prayed in private (Luke 5:16).

Luke 4:42 When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. (NASB95)

The Lord Jesus knelt to pray (Mat 26:39).

Luke 22:41 And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray… (NASB95)

The Lord Jesus Christ always addressed God as Abba, an intimate term for “Father.”

The Jews never addressed God as Father, thus making our Lord’s ministry entirely unique from the Pharisees.

In our Lord’s prayers, communion or fellowship with the Father played a major role.

Our Lord’s ministry was exceptionally busy, and He worked under constant pressure.

He rarely had time for leisure, even for meals.

But the pressure of the crowds never interfered with his time for prayer.

Too often, we use the pressure of our work as an excuse not to pray; but, with the Lord Jesus, it was a reason for devoting extra time to prayer (Luke 4:42; Mark 1:35; John 6:15).

Luke 5:12 While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. (NASB95)

The Lord Jesus never confessed any sin in His prayers since He was sinless (John 8:29).

1 Peter 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH. (NASB95)

Our Lord Jesus’ prayers revealed Him to be the Son of God and were always in accordance to His Father’s will; thus, His prayers were always answered.

John 11:42 “I knew that You [God the Father] always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” (NASB95)

Our Lord Jesus employed prayers of thanksgiving (John 6:11; 11:41)

Matthew 26:27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (NASB95)

Our Lord Jesus prayed not only for Himself, but also for others with intercessory prayers (John 17; Luke 23:34).

Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (NASB95)

Prayer for the Lord Jesus Christ was as natural as eating or breathing.

Prayer was important to Him, since it was the principle means for Him to have fellowship with His Father and determine His Father’s will for His life.

The prayer life of the Lord Jesus Christ, during His First Advent, expressed His perfect humility and absolute dependence upon the Father.

Our Lord did nothing in life without first consulting the Father in prayer; thus, how much more should we depend upon the Father to lead us through life.

Let’s note that the Lord’s great achievements came after prayer.

Some miracles that resulted from prayer include: (1) His feeding of the four thousand (Mat 14:23; 15:36), (2) His feeding of the five thousand (Mat 14:13-21; John 6:11), (3) walking on the water (Mat 14:23-33), (4) raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41-42), and (5) healing the insane boy (Mark 9:14-29).

The human nature of the Lord Jesus Christ depended upon prayer in order to receive power to perform miracles, which glorified the Father and demonstrated Him as the Messiah and the Son of God.

In His human nature, He depended upon prayer in order to receive power to defeat Satan and the kingdom of darkness in spiritual combat.

The ultimate objective of our Lord’s prayer life during His First Advent was the glorification of the Father.

He desired that the Father’s character and nature be revealed through Him.

John 12:28 “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” (NASB95)

Of the four Gospels, the Gospel of Luke provides the greatest insight into the prayer life of the Lord Jesus.

Luke’s account emphasizes the Lord’s reliance on prayer during His First Advent.

While Matthew emphasizes the kingship of Christ, Mark the servant hood of Christ, and John the deity of Christ, Luke emphasizes His humanity.

Luke records ten occasions when the Lord Jesus prayed: (1) His baptism (Luke 3:21), (2) after a day of miracles (Luke 5:15-16), (3) before choosing His disciples (Luke 6:12), (4) before the prediction of His death (Luke 9:18), (5) on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:29), (6) before teaching His disciples to pray (Luke 11:1), (7) when the seventy returned with their report (Luke 10:21), (8) in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46), (9) on the cross with intercessory prayers for those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34), and (10) on the cross when offering up His human spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46).

[1] Andrew Murray, Andrew Murray on Prayer. (Whitaker House) 317.