In Growth Groups this week we looked at Luke 6:12-16, a short but intriguing passage in which Luke describes Jesus choosing his disciples. Our group segued into a helpful and exciting discussion on how we make decisions. We came up with 5 good tips – (1) Pray, (2) Listen to God in His Word, (3) Seek the wisdom of wise friends, (4) Don’t rush and (5) Be content with what you choose.
But verse 12 continues to be the verse that is running around inside my head: “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” The first thing that comes to mind is Jesus sitting on the mountain talking to himself. But that cannot be right!
It is easy to get ourselves into theological conundrums as we read the Bible and try to understand what is going on. In this case, we know that Jesus is God, Immanuel, God with us. But we also know that God exists in three-persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three are God; not God as he chooses to reveal himself from time to time (like a morph monster) but equally, co-existently God. So does that mean that Jesus was talking to himself up on that mountain?
I don’t think so. Often when we read “God” in relation to Jesus, what is meant is God the Father. Jesus remains in eternal submission to his Father as the Son and it is only right that he might therefore speak to God his Father in prayer.
Only right, but astoundingly right!
I am blown away by this reality actually. Jesus stops what he is doing and spends the whole night praying about a serious and long-term decision he has to make.
When was the last time you spent the whole night in prayer about a big decision you had to make. Probably the same time I did. Never. Did Jesus need to pray more than us. Probably not. Was Jesus in greater anxiety and needed more prayer? Probably not. Was Jesus just a better prayer who did not run out of things to say? Um, I doubt it.
I think this whole situation just indicates the necessity and importance of prayer as we do life. The Growth Group material challenges us in this way – “On top of the passing conversational prayers that you may enjoy with God, consider the discipline of stepping outside your busy life to be with God in prayer.”
You will no doubt have lots of things to think about this week, but giving that suggestion due consideration could, perhaps, be the most important thing you do this year.
In Christ
Nigel