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Bible Will I Find: The Lord's Prayer? By: Gary Colley
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Bible Will I Find: The Lord's Prayer? By: Gary Colley
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Jesus, the Lord of glory, prayed often to His Father in Heaven. We do not have all of His prayers or actions recorded in the New Testament (John 21:25). We do know that He prayed all night the night He was to choose the apostles and the next day, from all of His disciples He chose twelve (Luke 6:12). He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). One time His disciples heard Him pray, and wanted Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). Several times in the great Sermon on the Mouth, the command and manner of prayer is given (Matthew 5-7). Many in the world, even the religious world, think that "The Lord's Prayer" is found in Matthew 6:9-15. Often these words are repeated from the school ground to the battle ground, but perhaps to the shock of some, we suggest to you that this is not "The Lord's Prayer". Jesus never prayed this prayer, Jesus never commanded His disciples to pray this prayer. His disciples are never recorded praying this prayer. They never repetitiously repeated these words, as some do today. Jesus did teach His disciples how to pray with these words, i. e. the "manner" with which they should approach the Father's Throne in prayer. After warning that they should not pray just to be seen or heard of men as the hypocrites, Jesus said, "After this manner therefore pray ye . . ." (Matthew 6:5-15). Now the seventeenth chapter of John does record "The Lord's Prayer". Likewise it may be called "The Farewell Prayer" of our Lord on the earth. Jesus is preparing His disciples to carry on His work on the earth after His ascension back to Heaven. Jesus said in this prayer, "The hour is come . . .", which means the time is come for His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection (John 17:1). By His work of redemption, He glorified His Father and Himself! His mission and work on the earth will soon be completed (John 17:4). He prays for His disciples, whom He is leaving to do His work that they may be kept from the evil in the world (John 17:15). He prayed for them, that they might all be on in the unity of Truth (John 17:20-21). He who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, is now given a name that is exalted about every name, the name of Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Hebrews 2:9, Philippians 2:5-11). It is a joy to serve Him!