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The Ministry of Jesus included entire nights of prayer where He sought the Father to be filled with wisdom and strength to fight the powers of darkness that surrounded Him every moment. Usually such nights took place before a decision or crisis in the Savior’s life (Mark 1:35).
Jesus took upon Himself human nature, and with it the possibility of yielding to sin. He was allowed to face life’s temptations like every human being, to fight the war like every child of God must fight it, at the peril of failure and eternal death. Only thus could it be said that He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).
These occurrences took place as the need arose but the gospel writers only mentioned some of them. Jesus’ earthly ministry started when He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days to meditate, fast and pray. (Matt. 4:1). And through the power of God, Jesus was empowered and overcame the temptations of the devil.
In Mark 1:35, we read that Jesus went out to a solitary place; and there He prayed to His Father during the night. And in Luke 6:12, we learn that He left His followers to spend the night in prayer at the foot of the mountain.
Prayer marked the beginning of His Galilean ministry and immediately came before His first missionary tour through the towns and villages of Galilee (Mark 1:35). Again, prayer is recorded in relation with the great crisis in Galilee (Matt. 14:22, 23; John 6:15, 66). And it also took place at Transfiguration, when Jesus shared with His three disciples the facts about His sufferings and death (Luke 9:28–31).
The longest recorded prayer of Jesus came before His entrance to the Garden of Gethsemane at night (John 17). And at the garden, and just few hours before the crucifixion, Jesus poured out His most agonizing prayer before the Father (Matt. 26:36–44).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
