Prayer, Week 3

We started our conversation on prayer, looking at the book of Daniel.  We explored how prayer was a rhythm of life and how even in exile, the Jewish people found ways to stay connected to God while they were separated from each other and the Temple.  We considered our own rhythms of prayer and pondered if, like Daniel and his friends we understand what it means to show adoration toward God regardless of the outcomes.  

Last week we took a Psalm and borrowed the heart-felt prayer prayed by David as we offered up the same words to our good Father.  We also considered the value of learning about prayer from those that have gone before us, and how there is much value in reading and praying scripture as well as prayers from fellow apprentices of Jesus.  

As we approach the mid-way point in our conversation on prayer, we are shifting to the New Testament and digging into what we commonly refer to as The Lord’s Prayer.  

Both Matthew and Luke give us details about Jesus teaching this particular prayer.  Each book presents the narrative taking place in a different setting, but I think ultimately both are working toward the same goal.  

Luke 11 opens with Jesus praying.  When he finishes, one of his disciples approaches him and says, “Teach us to pray, Master, just like John taught his disciples.”  

I’ve been thinking about these words a lot lately, and I keep uncovering more questions.  Jesus and his disciples were Jewish.  They all grew up regularly praying and observing the feasts and holy days.  So why were they asking Jesus to teach them to pray?  And why does Jesus respond the way he does?  We see Jesus go off to pray throughout the gospels, and it seems that his prayer times are longer and more involved than these instructions that he gives his disciples.  

Luke 11:2-4 

“When you pray, replied Jesus, this is what you say:  Father, may your name be honored; may your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, since we too forgive all our debtors; and don’t put us to the test.” 

The disciples called Jesus Rabbi and would have wanted to learn all they could from him so they could emulate him.  Yet, when asked to teach them to pray, Jesus didn’t give them a 10 step action plan for intercession or sit them down for a quick course on casting out demons.  Why not?  

Jesus continues - 

Luke 11:5-8

“Suppose one of you has a friend, he said, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say, My dear friend, lend me three loaves of bread!  A friend of mine is on a journey and has arrived at my house, and I have nothing to put in front of him!  He will answer from inside his house, Don’t make life difficult for me!  The door is already shut, and my children and I are all in bed!  I can’t get up and give you anything.  Let me tell you, even if he won’t get up and give you anything just because you’re his friend, because of your shameless persistence he will get up and give you whatever you need.”

N.T. Wright says, “In the sort of house Jesus has in mind, the family would all sleep side by side on the floor, so that if the father got up at midnight the whole family would be woken up.”  He goes on to say “The laws of hospitality in the ancient Middle East were strict, and if a traveler arrived needing food and shelter one was under an obligation to provide it.”  

The friend inside, though inconvenienced, will get up and help because he knows his friend would do the same for him if he was the one in need.  And in this scenario the sooner he helps him the sooner his family can settle back down for the night.  

And still, Jesus is not done - 

Luke 11:9-13

“So this is my word to you: ask and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.  You see, everyone who asks receives!  Everyone who searches finds!  Everyone who knocks has the door opened for them!  If your son asks you for a fish, is there a father among you who will give him a snake?  Or if he asks for an egg, will you give him a scorpion?  Face it: you are evil.  And yet you know how to give good presents to your children.  How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 

I wonder if Jesus is trying to get his disciples to understand that at the heart of prayer is the power and presence of the Holy Spirit?  That he is inviting them to have the same intimate fellowship that he has with the Father and the Spirit?  The Spirit is God’s gift to us, and though Jesus was still with the disciples during this teaching, I believe he was preparing them to not rely on their flesh but to allow the Spirit to permeate their being and to transform their prayers.  

As sons and daughters of the King, we worship our Heavenly Father.  His name is worthy of honor and glory and praise.  God’s Spirit reveals his kingdom to us each day, fills us with the bread of life daily, guides us as we both seek and offer forgiveness, and protects us from our real enemy.  

God is a good father, who loves us deeply, and wants us to experience his Spirit fully.  

Next week we’ll see how these verses in Luke compare to the ones in Matthew.  Until then, I’d love to know your thoughts about these passages in Luke.  Feel free to send an email or hop on Instagram and leave your thoughts there.  

~ Melissa