“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.”— Matthew 14:23
He spent time praying to His Father.
The scriptures declare His life journey and how our Lord took time to be alone and talk with His Father. In the quiet moments, without any distractions, He knew His very soul would be revived for all that was before Him.
I’ve referenced some scriptures as a source of understanding: Our Lord’s prayer times.
Do you find the time to be alone in prayer to the Father God, whether it’s a mountain or any room or outdoor space where you can be alone to pray?
Can’t you hear the Father call you to the mountain? I wrote those very words in a song years ago when the kids were little and carrying on as kids do. “It was time for me to pray to find rest in his green pasture where the peaceful waters flow.”
To cast my burden down to give him my heavy load, all my cares, all my concerns, and others’ prayer requests.
“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed.”—Mark 1:35
Before the light breaks forth and the birds begin their song, prayer has risen to the Father God. Those times, the Holy Spirit wakes you to pray for someone in your heart and mind.
Jesus withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.” —Matthew 14:13
Jesus “departed and went into a desolate place” (Luke 4:42) — not just once but regularly.
“So, He often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”— Luke 5:16
“Often” is the word we should spotlight. Alone away from all influences of others.
His constant communion with God the Father and His empowering by God the Holy Spirit.
You need a deserted place (isolated place) essential for prayer without interference.
To receive all the Father has for you. You don’t want to miss anything when you set time to listen.
Then, after feeding the five thousand, he withdrew again to a quiet place. —Matthew 14:14
After he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray” —Matthew 14:-23
On the night he was arrested, and before His death, he said to Peter, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” —Luke 22:32
He had prayed for Peter beforehand.
Oh, the power of prayer that has no limit of time or space.
All of John 17
Jesus Prays for Himself
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
Jesus Prays for All Believers
Then they went out from that upper room and they witnessed him pray over and over in the garden —Matthew 26:36
Just before his arrest, late at night, Jesus meets alone with God in Gethsemane. Gethsemane means “olive press.” It was where olives were crushed for their oil. So, too, the Son of God would be crushed here.
Jesus knew what the Father’s will was, yet He still endured this agony. It was because Jesus was to be a sacrifice for all our sins.
It was not so much the horror of physical torture that affected Jesus so, but it was the spiritual horror of the cross — of being made sin
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. —2 Corinthians 5:21
This is what made Jesus troubled and deeply distressed.
Hebrews 5:7-8 describes Jesus’ agony in the Gethsemane: Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
Mark 14:36
Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Aramaic term abba (אבא) Daddy
Hebrew: אב (av) Father, I will obey.”
(Mark 14:32-41). Mark describes how the disciples fought slumber to stay awake and pray nearby.
Jesus was alone. His disciples gave Him no support at all.
Matthew 26:36-56 The Message
36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”
39 Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”
40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”
42 He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”
43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.
45-46 When he came back the next time, he said, “Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners. Get up! Let’s get going! My betrayer is here.”
“Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will”; Jesus prayed himself through to the cross
The battle was won at the Garden of Gethsemane.
We all must be aware of the enemy regarding distractions in our prayer life. Do you feel sleepy while reading the scriptures, or do you want to sleep instead of pray? That’s when you wake yourself up, stand up, and pray with all your heart, soul, and mind.
Jesus was not angry or irritated because His disciples did not help Him. He wanted them to pray with Him, not for Him, but for their benefit. Jesus could stand alone against the trial of the cross, but they, being without prayer, would not.
“If I feel myself disinclined to pray, then is the time when I need to pray more than ever.”
Charels Spurgeon