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And Jesus Prayed, September 9
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 6:12
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The Majesty of heaven, while engaged in His earthly ministry, was
often in earnest prayer. Frequently He spent the entire night thus. His
spirit was sorrowful as He felt the power of the darkness of this world,
and He left the busy city and the noisy throng to seek a retired place for
intercession with His Father. The Mount of Olives was the favorite resort
of the Son of God. Frequently, after the multitude had left Him for the
retirement of the night, He rested not though weary with the labors of the
day.... While the city was hushed in silence and His disciples had retired to
obtain refreshment in sleep, His divine pleadings were ascending to His
Father from the Mount of Olives, that His disciples might be kept from the
evil influences which they would daily encounter in the world, and that His
own soul might be strengthened and braced for the duties and trials of the
coming day. All night, while His followers were sleeping, was their divine
Teacher praying, while the dew and frost of night fell upon His bowed
head....
The example of Christ is left on record for His followers. Jesus was
Himself a source of blessing and strength. He could heal the sick and raise
the dead; He commanded even the tempests, and they obeyed Him; He
was unsullied with corruption, a stranger to sin; yet He endured agony
which required help and support from His Father, and He prayed often with
strong crying and tears. He prayed for His disciples and for Himself, thus
identifying Himself with the needs, the weaknesses, and the failings which
are common to humanity. He was a mighty petitioner, not possessing the
passions of our human, fallen natures, but compassed with like infirmities,
tempted in all points even as we are....
Christ, our Example, turned to His Father in these hours of distress. He
came to earth that He might provide a way whereby we could find grace
and strength to help in every time of need by following His example in
frequent, earnest prayer
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The Review and Herald, May 19, 1885
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