Why Did Jesus Pray? …Hello weekend readers. I finished a book by Sam Storms, about Jesus and prayer. The book intrigued me. Sam is a pastor, author and teacher and there was something that he didn’t want to ask until finally he did! His question? “Why did Jesus pray, after all he is in perfect fellowship with God and the Holy Spirit, so what need did Jesus pray for—he had everything.” And that is what we are going to muse on today!

In Scripture we see Jesus often praying to his Father? What need was there for this? We know that Jesus accomplished God’s will, he always does what God asks and he never sins. So, what possible reason could he have for praying to the Father?

Here is the question Sam learned: “The answer to this question is found in the truth that although he was fully divine during his earthly sojourn, Jesus lived and taught and served others as a man, depending on the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Although still omniscient as the Son of God, he suspended the exercise of this divine attribute so that he might live a fully human life, operating within the same limitations that we do as humans.

When I read this I shouted Hallalujah—Jesus did this for me and for all people. He actually self-renunciated his stature, voluntarily suspending the exercise of whatever divine attributes that were inconsistent with living as a human being. Jesus wanted to live among us as a friend, a helper, a teacher and so much more. He came down to our level so we could know and understand him. Jesus’ prayer life was incredible. Remember when he chose the twelve disciples? He withdrew to a mountain, “and all night he continued in prayer to God” even though he knew what he would be doing, he sought wisdom and guidance from his Father.

Jesus is Jesus, after all, and we are not. He was both God and man, and we are but men and women and His example is designed to encourage us as we pray. Jesus models how to pray for all we need to carry out God’s calling on our lives. Just as Jesus drew strength from the Holy Spirit and his Father’s guidance and counsel, so should we.

What does Jesus instruct us in prayer? From the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:44, he reminds us “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” [NLT] 

We all know how difficult that can be. He also instructs us to pray for the Holy Spirit. In Luke 11:10-13 he says “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?” [MSG]  

Guess what – Jesus wants us to have ‘Good Things’! In Romans 8:32 [NLT] the Apostle Paul literally shouted out: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” 

So, whatever “things” you most desperately need to sustain your walk with God and your ever-increasing joy in Jesus well, remember, Jesus’ Father will supply abundantly. But you must ask! You have to pray! We can never expect God to do for us apart from prayer what he has said he will do only in response to our prayer. AMEN.