Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Eighteen times our Lord's own prayers are alluded to or quoted; but those passages give us only four aspects of His prayers. I. HIS HABIT of prayer. In five passages (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Luke 5:16; Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46) we have our Lord withdrawing for prolonged private prayer; at a time when involved in the whirl of public work; before appointing His apostles and establishing His kingdom. In a sixth passage (Luke 11:1) this habit so impressed the disciples that they asked Him to teach them how to pray. II. HIS THANKFULNESS in prayer. In five more passages, three (Matthew 11:25; John 11:41; Luke 10:21) quote an ejaculation of gratitude. The others (Luke 3:21; Luke 9:28) are on the occasions of His baptism and transfiguration; the one initiating Him into His mission of teaching, the other into His mission of suffering. III. HIS INTERCESSION in prayer. 1. For His friends (Luke 22:32). 2. For His enemies (Luke 23:34). 3. For Himself and His disciples as one with Him (John 17) IV. HIS OBEDIENCE in prayer (Matthew 26:39; Mark 15:34; Luke 22:42; John 12:27). We may draw from these prayers — 1. An argument in favour of our Lord's divinity. There is no confession of sin. He prays for, never with, His disciples. 2. We may see an example for ourselves in (1) His belief in the habit of prayer; (2) the reverent limit He assigned to prayer — "Not My will," etc.; (3) His practice of private super-added to public prayer; (4) His joyful continuance in prayer. (Prof. A. S. Farrar.) Parallel Verses KJV: And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. |
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