Imagine being unable to communicate with a close friend. That would be hard! In any relationship, communication is essential. Lack of communication hinders the relationship’s growth. Our relationship with God is no different. We need to hear from God (through reading the Bible), and God wants to hear from us (through prayer). Prayer is a lifeline and a privilege for the Christian.

Struggling to pray is normal. Believers, both young and old in the faith, testify to the challenge of cultivating a meaningful prayer life. Thankfully, there are aids to prayer. One can go to the Old Testament Psalms and simply pray them. The Bible is filled with prayers, which is a boon to the believer as he or she strives to grow in prayer.

The purpose of this article is to examine the specific prayers recorded in the Bible that Jesus prayed. 

Prayer at His Baptism

John the Baptist had a unique role in redemptive history. God called him to prepare the way for Jesus, the Son of Man. As people came from all over to be baptized, John preached a message of repentance (Matt 3:2). Luke explains, “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened” (Luke 3:21). 

Jesus lived a sinless earthly life and did not need to be baptized. However, “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt 3:15), Jesus asked John to baptize him. At that moment, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus, and the Father declared, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). During this monumental time, Jesus prayed. Clearly, prayer was natural and regular for him, more so than for anyone else in history. 

Prayer Before Preaching in Galilee

Mark’s gospel shows us Jesus’ prayer life before engaging in ministry. For example, Mark explains, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35). Jesus’ days were often hectic and jam-packed with ministry activity. Sometimes, the only time he could enjoy his Heavenly Father was at the crack of dawn. Jesus found a quiet place to prepare himself for the ministry that awaited him later that day (Mark 1:38-39).

Prayers Before Choosing the Twelve Apostles

Jesus’ commitment to prayer is also on display before he chooses the twelve disciples. Luke writes, “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12).  Before selecting these twelve men, Jesus prayed for a whole night, indicating how seriously Jesus took this. Luke goes on to say, “And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:” (Luke 6:13). Jesus already had a pool of followers (“disciples”), but from this pool he chose “apostles” in whom He invested heavily. These twelve men would become the church’s foundation (Eph 2:20). The church grew through their faithful preaching of the gospel (Matt 16:18, Acts 2:42).

At the Feeding of the Five Thousand

One of Jesus’ most famous miracles is the feeding of the 5000. Before the disciples distribute the loaves and the fish, Jesus prayed a blessing over the food. “And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing” (Mark 6:41).

This prayer of Jesus models profound faith and dependency upon the Father. We acknowledge our need for God’s daily bread whenever we sit down and pray a blessing before a meal. Prayer is not just about spiritual needs. It reaches the believer’s entire life, including their physical needs. Pausing to give thanks promotes a spirit of gratitude in the believer’s heart.

On The Return of the 72 Disciples

Before sending them out, Jesus gave the 72 disciples instructions on how to carry out their ministry (Luke 10:1-12). When they returned, they were overjoyed, knowing God worked mightily through them (Luke 10:17). Jesus took this opportunity to pray, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will” (Luke 10:21).

Jesus’ prayer teaches that the Holy Spirit not only empowers in ministry and service but also reveals the will of God and helps believers understand and interpret the Bible.

At Lazarus’ Tomb

Before Jesus healed Lazarus, He lifted his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me” (John 11:41-42).

Jesus had absolute confidence that God the Father would hear his prayer. Many of the people, particularly Lazarus’ family, were still distraught over his death. As Jesus prayed in the hearing of many, it would have demonstrated God’s plan to glorify his Name and reveal Jesus as the Son of God. The climax occurs when Jesus declares with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out” (John 11:43). In dramatic fashion, the dead man obeyed Jesus’ command.

Further instances of thanksgiving and blessing prayers could be cited, including when Jesus gave thanks before the feeding of the 4000 (Mark 8:6) and at the institution of the Lord’s supper (Mark 14:23). Jesus’ example in prayer models what the command to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17) looks like in everyday life.

Prayers of Intercession and Petition

For Peter’s Faith

It is a great comfort to know that Jesus prays for his people (Heb 7:25, Rom 8:34). Consider how Jesus prayed for Peter. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).

Jesus knew that Peter would deny him (Luke 22:34, 54-62). He prayed that after Peter’s faith failed it would not fail again. And as Peter’s faith endured, it served to encourage the other disciples. Reading through the book of Acts, you see how this prayer was answered.

God’s people are weak. We need one another within the Body of Christ. Living the Christian life requires both a spirit of humble dependence upon Christ (2 Cor 12:10) and a commitment to lift one another up in prayer, in the name of the Lord.

For His Disciples

Another illustration of Jesus’ commitment to intercessory prayer is in John 17, perhaps the greatest prayer in the Bible. It is stunning to see Jesus’ intimate love for the Father and his abiding concern for believers, both present and future.

Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer” can be divided into three sections: a prayer for the glory of God the Father (John 17:1-5), a prayer for spiritual protection and unity among the disciples (John 17:6-19), and a prayer for future believers (John 17:20-26).

Jesus prays for his people congruent with their needs and vulnerabilities. This establishes that eternal life is exclusively found in knowing the one true God (John 17:3). Finally, as Jesus prays “Holy Father” (John 17:11) and “righteous Father” (John 17:25), it reminds us that true prayer acknowledges the sacred character of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayers Jesus Prayed in Times of Suffering and Crisis

In the Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus’ prayers in the Bible sometimes demonstrate great emotion. When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, he confessed, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Matt 26:38). As he agonized over the bloody crucifixion that awaited him, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matt 26:39). Jesus’ humanity is displayed in this verse, yet He was fully committed to God’s will, whatever the cost.

This passage features the intensity of Jesus’ prayers (Luke 22:44) and the disciples’ weakness. They were with Jesus that night but kept falling asleep. Jesus rebuked them, saying, “ … could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:40-41).Distractions and sinful, fleshly weaknesses work against effective, persevering prayer. Recognize your own weakness, find a solitary place, rely on the Holy Spirit, and follow Jesus’ example in prayer.

On the Cross

Jesus had seven “last sayings” while he hung on the cross, two of which were prayers. The first is Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Forgiveness of sin is the heart of the gospel. Jesus was praying that his enemies would know the marvelous pardon of their sin and guilt that Jesus alone can bring.

The second prayer on the cross is Luke 23:46, where Jesus prayed, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Here, Jesus was praying the words of Psalm 31:5. The whole Christian life requires giving one’s spirit to the Father. Jesus knew death itself could not separate him from the love of God (Rom 8:38).

The Significance and Lessons of Jesus’ Prayers

Jesus valued prayer so much that he taught his disciples to pray. His model prayer became known as the “Lord’s prayer,” which complements many of this article’s principles.

Being a woman or man of prayer is not as hard as one might think. It is not about making big prayers or long prayers. Rather, it involves having regular communication with God the Father. Sometimes, finding a solitary or “secret place” is necessary, just as Jesus did.

The variety of Jesus’ prayers in the gospels makes clear that prayer comes in different forms, such as petition, thanksgiving, and intercession. As the believer grows in his or her faith, he or she will learn to pray in moments of crisis or when discernment is needed. Regular times of prayer fosters a dependency upon Christ Jesus and teaches the believer to give thanks for his countless blessings.

Prayer is the believer’s great privilege. God has opened this door of communication, and if Jesus needed regular times of prayer, how much more so ordinary Christians? We must not take this privilege for granted.

For a sermon on prayer, click here.

This article was originally published on the Bible Answers Project.