JESUS’ ETERNAL PRAYERS
We close our little series on Great Souls of Prayer’on a sublime note. Let us contemplate on Jesus’ eternal prayers.
In Jesus’prayers we sense Jesus’ conversation with eternity, we listen to the divine conversations between the Father and the Son in the bond of the Spirit. We eavesdrop on words uttered towards eternity, we hear the silent whispers of God’s response to his Son. Today we consider the Lord’s Prayer. Next week Jesus’ other great eternal prayer in John chapter 17.
“Lord teach us to pray, as John (the Baptist) taught his disciples” (Luke 11.1). Jesus’disciples wanted to be like the others. Jesus then taught them a simple prayer. “Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. Lead us not into temptation”(Luke 11.2-4). It is the Lord’s Prayer. But you will notice it is shorter than the version found in Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 6.9-13). Matthew’s version finishes with an additional blessing to God, called a doxology.“For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, for ever AMEN.”This doxology indicates that the Early Church had started to recite the Lord’s Prayer during worship. We do the same
The Lord’s Prayer is the church’s precious prayer from Jesus. Here is a little rule followed by New Testament scholars. When we have two versions of the same teaching or incident the shorter version is usually the original. People will normally add to what is already written.
So scholars conclude that Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer is the original (Luke 11.2-4). The Lord’s Prayer is not the common possession of everyone, a sort of general prayer that everyone can recite. We have sound evidence that the Lord’s Prayer was jealously guarded. About 348 AD a church leader called Cyril of Jerusalem gave a series of lectures to his young converts.
From these lectures we learn the proper sequence of events. The converts were baptized, instructed, professed Jesus as their Saviour and Lord, were only then taught the Lord’s Prayer, and finally admitted to the Lord’s Table.
The Lord’s Prayer is so slight and simple. It is like many common Jewish prayers.
But when we see it in the light of eternity it becomes so important and so precious.
The Lord’s Prayer is a summary of Jesus’teaching and a description of Jesus’life and mission, ministry and passion from his Father God.
Consider each portion of the Lord’s Prayer.“Father”, the unique bond between Father and Son. “Thy kingdom come.”Remember how Jesus opened his ministry: “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is near”(Mark 1.14-15).
“Thy will be done.” That is Jesus’ inner motive. Remember Gethsemane:“Not my will but thine be done”(Mark 14.36).“Give us each day our daily bread.” Remember how Jesus taught us: “Do not be anxious. Your heavenly Father knows what you need” (Matthew 6.32).“Forgive the debts of life.”Jesus finally accomplished that on the Cross: “Father forgive them they know not what they do”(Luke 23.34). “Deliver us from evil.”Jesus died to break the power of sin and evil. Dear reader, please, see how the Lord’s Prayer is a description of Jesus’life and mission, passion and death.
See the Lord’s Prayer in the light of eternity.
Jesus lived this prayer before God and probably offered many similar prayers to his Father God. See the Lord’s Prayer in the light of eternity. Hear its echoes in the realms of heaven.
Listen to the soul of Jesus praying to the heart of God. Catch the response from the heart of the Father strengthening his obedient Son.
Then you will appreciate the value, power, importance and glory of the Lord’s Prayer. And, mercy upon mercy, we are permitted to recite these precious words.
When we recite the Lord’s Prayer we echo Jesus’words. When we live out the Lord’s Prayer we follow in the Lord’s footsteps. When we say“Our Father”, we reach out to eternity.
When we acknowledge“Holy is your name”, eternity stoops down to touch us with the gentle finger of God.
“Lord teach us to pray”(Luke 11.1).