Gospel Reading Plan: Luke 21-22
Jesus, an example of prayer
Read: The verses that are listed
in the text below
The gospel record of the life of Christ only gives us a small glimpse
into His busy life, His teaching and His ministry. Yet many times the Gospels speak of His prayer
life. In the first chapter of Mark, we
read that Jesus rose very early, while it was still dark, and went off to a
solitary place where He prayed (Mark 1:35).
Jesus’ life was marked by many hours in prayer therefore the wise would conclude
that in order to be like Him and live for Him; we too must take prayer
seriously and spend much time in prayer.
Luke 3 tells us that He was praying when the Holy Spirit descended upon
Him at His baptism (Luke 3:21); He prayed for the little children (Matt. 19:13);
He prayed before designating the twelve apostles (Luke 6:12); He cast out
demons through prayer (Mark 9:29); He was praying before Peter confessed that
He was the Christ (Luke 9:18); He was in prayer when the transfiguration
occurred (Luke 9:28-29); it was after He spent time in prayer that the
disciples asked Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1); and when the time of His
crucifixion drew near He strengthened Himself to do His father’s will through
prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36). John 17 records this
beautiful prayer of intercession, the last recorded prayer before His death and
resurrection. Prayer was of primary
importance to Christ, it was a necessity.
It was a priority in His life, His ministry and His teachings. People
often wish to emulate Christ’s healings and miracles, His power over demons and
His great teachings. But how many people
wish to emulate Christ’s prayer life? This
will require much cost but remember - there is no glory without sacrifice.
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you something that He would like you to learn about prayer from the life of prayer that Jesus modelled.
- Ask the Lord to show you how you can apply this to your own personal prayer life.
- Thank Him for the example that He gave us in Christ. Pray that God would grow in you a passion for prayer and the desire to commune with Him throughout the day.
