Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
Books / Pr - Prayer (2002) / Chapter 15—Jesus’ Example in Prayer
Chapter 15—Jesus’ Example in Prayer
Jesus’ Humanity Made Prayer a Necessity—As the human was upon Him, He felt His need of strength from His Father. He had select places of prayer. He loved to hold communion with His Father in the solitude of the mountain. In this exercise His holy, human soul was strengthened for the duties and trials of the day. Our Saviour identifies Himself with our needs and weaknesses, in that He became a suppliant, a nightly petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, to come forth invigorated and refreshed, braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, but not in possessing like passions. As the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil. He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and privilege. He required all the stronger divine support and comfort which His Father was ready to impart to Him, to Him who had, for the benefit of man, left the joys of heaven and chosen His home in a cold and thankless world. Christ found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. Here He could unburden His heart of the sorrows that were crushing Him. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. {Pr 173.4}
Through the day He labored earnestly to do good to others, to save men from destruction. He healed the sick, comforted the mourning, and brought cheerfulness and hope to the despairing. He brought the dead to life. After His work was finished for the day, He went forth, evening after evening, away from the confusion of the city, and His form was bowed in some retired grove in supplication to His Father. At times the bright beams of the moon shone upon His bowed form. And then again the clouds and darkness shut away all light. The dew and frost of night rested upon His head and beard while in the attitude of a suppliant. He frequently continued His petitions through the entire night. He is our example. If we could remember this, and imitate Him, we would be much stronger in God. {Pr 174.1}
If the Saviour of men, with His divine strength, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of prayer—fervent, constant prayer! When Christ was the most fiercely beset by temptation, He ate nothing. He committed Himself to God and, through earnest prayer and perfect submission to the will of His Father, came off conqueror. Those who profess the truth for these last days, above every other class of professed Christians, should imitate the great Exemplar in prayer. {Pr 174.2}
“It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.” Our tables are frequently spread with luxuries neither healthful nor necessary, because we love these things more than we love self-denial, freedom from disease, and soundness of mind. Jesus sought earnestly for strength from His Father. This the divine Son of God considered of more value, even for Himself, than to sit at the most luxurious table. He has given us evidence that prayer is essential in order to receive strength to contend with the powers of darkness, and to do the work allotted us. Our own strength is weakness, but that which God gives is mighty and
will make everyone who obtains it more than conqueror.—( Testimonies for the Church 2:201-203.) {Pr 174.3}
Our Father in heaven,
We come to You in prayer, praise, and to bring our petitions before You. We thank You for giving us this privilege of being able to come into Your presence to commune with You. We thank You for always being with us, as You have promised, You will never leave us nor forsake us. It is a pure joy to be able to speak with You, spend time with You, and to be able to hear Your voice through the Word of life You have given to us. We see our need and pray for strength from on High. We pray that You strengthen us, invigorate us, and refresh us for the duties and trials of this day. Help us endure the struggles and torture of soul in this world of sin. We pray for a fresh supply of divine support and comfort as we go out to labor in the vineyard to help save souls that are perishing in this cold and thankless world. Help us and strengthen us to do good to others and bring them cheerfulness and hope. We thank You for giving us Your example. We pray that we may have the strength to imitate You so that we would be stronger in God. We feel our need for fervent and constant prayer. We pray that we may receive Your mighty strength, making us more than conquerors. We thank You Lord for hearing and answering our prayers, and it’s in the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
