Jesus: Prayer Warrior

Jesus baptism was a very important time in the life of Jesus, as it is with most that follow Him as their Savior.  Of course, Jesus' baptism was a little different.  Most of us would never have to put up a fuss to get someone to baptize us, but Jesus did.  He had to actually state His case to convince John to baptize Him.  John was a bit reluctant, knowing who Jesus was, and who could blame him?  We have to look to Matthew's Gospel to even get this glimpse of resistance.  John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" (Matt 3:14, ESV)  No other gospel writer notes this obvious tension in the moment.  But Jesus answered him "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented." (v. 15) So with that, Jesus, our sinless Savior and Redeemer, was baptized.  He who knew no sin had set the precedent and example for all who would come after Him to follow.

Jesus didn't stop there.  He went on after His baptism and before His coronation as the Servant King, recalling Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1, in the words from Heaven, to set us another important example that we will explore in more detail. "When Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened." (Luke 3:21) So between these two extremely significant events in all of Christendom, Jesus prayed.  This is quite significant, but Jesus can be nothing less.  Jesus prayer life was another example that we, His followers, would do well to follow.  Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (Luke 11:1 NKJV)

Prayer was a significant and substantial part of Jesus' life. Jesus spoke to His Father on a regular basis.  We see the beginnings of this here in Luke at His baptism, but we can trace Jesus' prayer life all the way through baptism, transfiguration, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.  When something important was happening, Jesus was praying.  Let us explore Jesus' prayer life during the important events more closely and then look at the pattern, and thus importance, of prayer in the life of our Lord.

Jesus is seen praying at almost every turn, but maybe even more so when there was a fork in the road, an important event that would have a major impact on His earthly life and ministry. Jesus was praying when He was commissioned and proclaimed Savior by God, but that was only the beginning.

We will spend a few days talking about Jesus, our example and ultimate Prayer Warrior.