It is many times told of the Lord Jesus while He was on earth that He prayed to God the Father. Sometimes He went to a mountain to pray, and to a desert or other lonely or quiet place. Sometimes the disciples were with Him, but His words in those prayers are not written (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:18,28).
But Scripture records the Lord’s words in His prayer the evening before He and the disciples went into the garden where Judas led the soldiers to take Him. They are very wonderful words.
A Place for Prayer
“These words spake Jesus and lifted up His eyes to heaven.” After He had prayed, “He went forth with His disciples over the brook, Cedron” to the garden (John 18:1). That brook flows through a ravine outside of the city, so must have been a lonely place; they were probably alone that night.
The great temple should have been a place for prayer (Isa. 56:7; Mark 11:17). But the Lord Jesus was refused in the temple, and the chief priests were then sending the men to take Him. Yet this prayer of the Lord, who knew all their plans and all He would suffer that night and the next day, were not for Himself, but for those who trusted in Him.
What Jesus Prayed for
He said He had told them God’s words and they had believed Him, and He prayed for them to be kept from the evil of the world. Then He prayed also for those who would believe Him when His disciples told them of Him. From these words we know this prayer is for all now who believe on the Lord Jesus their Saviour, as these men did and as they taught and wrote of Him.
Ever so many people since that time, in all parts of the world, have believed the words written by these men, and have put their trust in the Lord Jesus. To all those, the words of this prayer have been very blessed.
Have you noticed the first words of this prayer? He said, “Father, the hour is come: glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee.”
It was the hour, or time, for His death, when He was to suffer for the sin of the world. But He spoke of glory, because by His death God would have glory and would give special glory to His Son. Some day all people saved by His death will give Him glory.
One thing He prayed for was that those who believed Him should behold His glory: “I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me .”
It is written that because the Son of God left His glory to come to earth and “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross ... God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name that is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:8-11).
Further Meditation:
1. What did Jesus pray for?
2. The Bible gives many places and circumstances where men of God prayed. It would be an eye-opening meditation to list at least five of them.
3. Prayer by H. P. Barker gives a very easy to understand and profitable introduction to the subject of prayer for a believer.