We see then, that when, in the maturity of manhood, having patiently passed thirty years in privacy, He is at last about to enter on the momentous undertaking of His life, He does so with prayer. "And it came to pass, all the people having been baptized, and Jesus having been baptized and praying, that the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove upon Him; and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I have found My delight." Luke 3:21, 22²¹Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, ²²And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (Luke 3:21‑22), J.N.D. Trans.

Following this, He is subjected to the temptation-the Spirit, who has just descended upon Him, leading Him into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Emerging victorious, He now, under the testimony of John the Baptist becomes the center of gathering, calling upon men to follow Him (Luke 5:11, 27¹¹And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. (Luke 5:11)
²⁷And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. (Luke 5:27); John 1:43⁴³The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. (John 1:43)), and exercising authority in bestowing a name upon one of them (John 1:42⁴²And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:42)). He thus formally begins His work and testimony. So far, however, the work is in His own hands alone; the campaign is opened, but is only in its first stage. The field is white unto harvest. Now an important development takes place. There is a night of prayer.

“And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." Luke 6:12¹²And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12). The result of this exercise is seen. When it is day He assembles His disciples, and out of them selects twelve to be apostles. He is already the Center of gathering, now He becomes the Source of mission. The work widens, and He employs others under Him to carry the testimony throughout the land. Thus, in the record of the Lord's life, great occasions are marked or brought about by special prayer. Not only, however, did the Lord pray specially at special crises, but He had a practice. He would go, distinctly and on purpose, to pray. Thus, "And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray." Matt. 14:23²³And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (Matthew 14:23). "And it came to pass, as He was alone praying.... And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He... went up into a mountain to pray" Luke 9:18, 28¹⁸And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? (Luke 9:18)
²⁸And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28). "He... went, as He was wont, to the mount of Olives.... and kneeled down, and prayed." Luke 22:39, 41³⁹And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. (Luke 22:39)
⁴¹And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (Luke 22:41). Shall we not be gently led by so sweet an example? He had not where to lay His head but with Him the solitudes of the mountain served for the walls of a closed chamber, and thus, is it not true with regard to prayer, that "Where there is a will, there is a way"?

The Lord is never recorded as praying with His disciples. He taught them to pray. He prayed about them, prayed for them, not with them.* His own position was unique. Our prayers are on the basis of what Christ is for us. He could draw near to God, as qualified in His own person and dignity; we draw near only in His name. This explains a verse which otherwise would seem a contradiction. "As He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him." Luke 9:18¹⁸And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? (Luke 9:18). The disciples were there, but He was "alone praying." And in Gethsemane He told the disciples to pray, but He, to pray, withdrew from them about a stone's cast (Luke 22:40, 41⁴⁰And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴¹And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (Luke 22:40‑41)). This is important, as everything is which affects our thoughts about Christ. Christians sometimes speak of the Lord as "Our Elder Brother": Scripture never does. "Ye call Me Master and Lord," He says, "and ye say well, for so I am." We cannot exaggerate the grace of Christ towards us. but it has been well said that: "The personal dignity of Christ is never lost in the intensity and tenderness of His love. True saints among the Moravians have called Jesus 'Brother,' and others have borrowed their hymns, or the expression. The Word never says so. He is not ashamed to call us brethren, but it is quite another thing for us to call Him so.”

(* See Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:29; 11:1; 22:40, 41²¹Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, (Luke 3:21)
¹⁶And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. (Luke 5:16)
¹²And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)
²⁹And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. (Luke 9:29)
¹And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (Luke 11:1)
⁴⁰And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴¹And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (Luke 22:40‑41).)

E. Thomas

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