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Introduction
During His sojourn in this vale of tears there is recorded 17
references, of which I am aware, of the Lord praying or parables having
to do with prayer. These are subdivided under five headings:
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1) |
His
Prayers at Major Junctions In His Life |
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a) |
When he was being baptised and about to launch into His life’s
work. (Lk. 3:21) |
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b) |
The choosing of the twelve. (Lk. 6:12) |
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c) |
When He was about to question
the disciples who the people said He was. (Lk. 9:18) |
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d) |
His transfiguration. (Lk. 9:29) |
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e) |
When
in the darkness of Gethsemane, when the hour of crisis was
approaching. (Matt. 26:39-44) |
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2) |
His
Prayers For Himself |
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a) |
“Father . . . glorify thy Son.” (Jn. 17:1) |
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b) |
“Father, glorify Thou me with thine own self with the glory
which I had with thee before the world was.” (Jn. 17:5) |
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c) |
For His resurrection (Heb. 5:7) |
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3) |
His
Prayers Of Declaration |
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a) |
“I
have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which
Thou gavest me to do.” (Jn. 17:4) (Paul
could say I have run the race, and finished my course, but this
is away beyond that. This was not a boasting, but an honest
reflection.) |
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4) |
His
Prayers At Miracles
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a) |
He
prayed before the presentation of food. “Jesus . . . when He
had given thanks”. (Jn. 6:11)
(This was when He fed the 5000) |
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b) |
The healing of multitudes. (Mk. 1:35) |
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c) |
Healing the deaf mute. (Mk. 7:34) |
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d) |
At the raising of Lazarus. (Jn. 11:41) |
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5) |
His
Teaching Of Prayer In Parables |
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a) |
The parable of the inopportune friend. (Lk. 11:5-10) |
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b) |
The Publican and the Pharisee. (Lk. 18:9-14) |
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c) |
The requests of the son to the father. (Matt. 7:7-11) |
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d) |
The widow and unjust judge. (Lk. 18:1-8) |
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e) |
On the theme of forgiveness. (Mk. 11:25) |
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6) |
His
Prayers In Dire Situations |
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a) |
He prayed when surrounded by those who hated Him. (Lk. 23:34) |
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b) |
He prayed when surrounded by mockers: “Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again”. (1 Pet. 2:23) |
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c) |
When God was silent and He in deep aloneness, in His hour of
desolation. (Matt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34) |
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d) |
When He was about to enter death. (Lk. 23:46) |
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7) |
Praying
For Others |
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a) |
The Lord’s intercessory prayer over Jerusalem. (Matt. 23:37-39) |
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b) |
For
those who rejected and crucified Him. (Lk. 23:34) |
He Prayed Being Aware Of The Need Of Others, For They Did Not Realize
The Need
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He prayed for others: |
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a) |
For the eleven. (Jn. 17:6-19) |
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b) |
For all the saints of a future time. (Jn. 17:20-26) |
This is, without a doubt, one of the loveliest and most comforting
truths relative to the Lord praying. Thank God He knows what lies ahead
of each of us, and thank God it is hidden from our eyes. Simon had no
idea of his weakness but the Lord did. It is
against the background of strife and positioning in the kingdom the Lord
says: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may
sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not”
(Lk. 22:31). Then Peter makes his declarations of loyalty (Lk. 22:33).
This is followed by the Lord telling him how soon and how often He would
fall (Lk. 22:34). The Lord did not call him Peter but repeated: “Simon,
Simon”, his name before he met the Lord. The Lord knew not only the
situation Peter was to face but the activity of Satan toward him. Peter
failed in his confession but never wavered in his faith of who Christ
was, because before the storm ever came, the Lord had prayed for him.
The saints are divided on every hand. In many churches internal
friction, despite hypocritical frozen smiles, the saints are splitting
apart. While the government of his Satanic Majesty cannot destroy the
corporate church, he can wreak havoc in the local church and thus the
Lord prayed.
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In His High priestly prayer He prayed: |
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1) |
“Holy
Father, keep through thine own name those whom Thou hast given
me, that they may be one.” (Jn. 17:11) |
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2) |
“That Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” (Jn.17:15) |
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3) |
“Sanctify them through Thy truth.” (Jn. 17:17) |
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4) |
“That
they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee,
that they may be one in us.” (Jn.17:21) |
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He prayed for that which is still before us when released from
this vale of tears. |
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1) |
“Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with
me where I am; that they may behold my glory, that Thou hast
given me.” (Jn. 17:24) |
May
God grant us good understanding as He, by His Holy
Spirit, deigns to guide us into all truth.
John 16:13
Copyright © 2012 by Rowan Jennings, Abbotsford,
British Columbia
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