Easter will be here in less than six weeks. It would be wise of us as His children to prepare ourselves. We can learn from the One who gave His all.
Jesus Christ. The sweetest name to touch our lips and change our hearts.
Jesus faced the biggest obstacle known to man. It is death and it plagues our world. No one escapes from it grip. What Jesus came to accomplish is nothing short of a miracle; a miracle wrapped in eternal love. How in the world did Jesus stay the course and remain obedient to the call His Father placed on Him? We might be quick to reply that since He was God, it was easy. But I don’t think so. When He dwelt within a human body, He experienced the separation that we do because of sin. Yes, He remained sinless, but He did feel the separation. He had to battle with His mortal human body, and with the evil one so He could remain abiding with His Father. He had to stay focused.
He came to dwell amongst us, so through the Holy Spirit, He can truly understand what we deal with on a daily basis as we learn and grow in faith. Jesus prayed fervently to His Father. This was how He lived obedient. If Jesus needed to pray being God in human form, how much more do we need to pray? This shows that we desperately need God!
Let’s see what the scriptures reveal about the need for Jesus to pray. In Mark 1, we read how busy Jesus was casting out evil spirits and healing people. In verse 35 we read how Jesus went to an isolated place to pray before daybreak. If Jesus needed to do this, you and I really need to do this.
From Luke 6, Jesus chose His twelve apostles. Before He did, He prayed on a mountain all night long. After this intimate time with His Father, Jesus had clarity on who His 12 will be, and He was able to heal people from disease and evil spirits.
“Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” Luke 5:16
Before walking on the water in Matthew 14, Jesus went up into the hills by Himself to pray.
Hebrews 5:7-9 gives us insight into Jesus’ prayers, “While Jesus was on earth, He offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the One who could rescue Him from death. And God heard His prayers because of His deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.”
What are 10 things we can learn from Jesus about prayer? 1. Praying kept Jesus focused on God. 2. Jesus was able to abide consistently when He talked with God all the time. 3. Even in busyness, Jesus made time to step away to commune with God. 4. Before making decisions, Jesus prayed. 5. Jesus needed the connection to God to be strong so He could be about His Father’s business. 6. Praying gave Jesus clarity. 7. Jesus was able to accomplish things that made people be in awe because of prayer. God received all the glory! 8. Jesus’ heart was broken for His beloved creation. Prayer moves the heart of God. 9. Prayer revealed Jesus’ heart. He respected His Father. 10. Prayer is a learned habit. Jesus had to learn to be obedient.
Probably the hardest prayer that Jesus had to pray is found in Matthew 26:36-46. Read this passage. What made it difficult? Why did Jesus need to pray?
Jesus took your place and mine on the cross. We deserve to remain separated from God and die in our sins, but the Trinity’s love for us is greater than all our sins combined. Because of His obedience, Jesus rescued us. Because of His undying love, we now have hope for a better tomorrow. Because of His resurrection, He now lives within repentant, broken hearts that desire to beat for Him.
Easter can be today and everyday when we each receive Christ and follow after Him. Pray desperate pleas and see where God will take you. New life is ready to bloom forth.
Carol J German 