All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Why did Jesus pray to the Father?
Since Jesus is God, how come He prayed to God? Wouldn't Jesus already have all the answers being that He, his self, is God? Please explain. Thanks.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by JB on
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I’m not going to try and explain all the meanings and or definitions of prayer, but most of us think of prayer as only asking God for something, when in essence prayer is also just worshiping the Father and just being in His presence.
We also have “intercessory” prayer which I see as; not between God and man but between man and His adversary.
We have only one intercessor between God and man, and that is the man Christ Jesus. Jesus has already made all the intercession necessary for mankind to God, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.
So reconciliation is a form of intercession. Some will ask then; how can we be an intercessor, or stand in the gape for our friends and loved ones, for their healing and or salvation etc.?
First there is no such thing as a gap between man and God. Jesus has already bridged that gap for us, He has made a way for man to come to God through Him, ”Jesus Christ” by the way He, is the only way. So if you feel you are standing in the (or a) gap for someone; it will be between the man and his adversary, not them and God.
Enlightenment is also a form of intercession, or prayer.
Some will ask you to pray for them for wisdom; your intercession will be to point him to 1Cor. 1:30, Jesus is made unto us Wisdom, righteousness…..
Intercession is an act of binding oneself to another’s debt, thereby relieving him of his liability and or obligation. Also a guarantee or surety ship.
Also “Cumulative intercession“. It’s the assumption of another’s debt by the addition of a new debtor or security,
This is what I think would come closer to describing the intercession that Jesus did for us. He took all of our burdens, sickness, lack, and etc. and paid the debt that we owed. Thereby making intercession for us to God.
Do you want to intercede for someone in debt? Pay their bill, for their hunger? Feed them, For knowledge? Teach them. For deliverance? Cast out the demon in the name of Jesus; you have His authority to do so.
A policeman is an intercessor for the public, but not between the constitution and you, but between you and the one trying to rob or kill you.
In other words, He does not have to go to the Supreme Court to get their permission to protect you, You have a constitutional right to be protected by the authorities; he has all the power of the law behind him. Just as you do over the devil when he is trying to bring you into bondage or a sickness or any other temptation. You have the authority to say unto this mountain!
You have no need to go to the supreme court of the universe to exercise your authority over a sickness or disease, or any infirmity brought on by the enemy, or adversary. “the devil”
Sounds a little off subject, but it really isn’t, because of the various kinds of prayer. A prayer of intercession, a prayer of petition, or supplication, a prayer of worship, etc.
So not all prayer is the same, or for the same reason or purpose.
If we would just go to the throne-room in adoration to God for His Love that has been shed abroad in our hearts and for Jesus Christ that suffered and died for us to return to the Father; I believe we could be more effective in our prayer life.
There is so much more to this that needs to be said and understood, but I think for now the point has been made.
Blessings to all
Joe
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Permalink Reply by Carla on
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Dear Pat,
The purpose of this website is to encourage all believers, and especially new believers to grow in Christ, we hope to keep this a place where they will not be bombarded with false teachings or confusing information. If someone does not adhere to our membership agreement, then they will be banned. We are here to 'shepherd the flock' not 'argue people into the Kingdom'. Here is the link to our membership agreement.
http://www.allaboutgod.net/forum/topic/show?id=1383940%3ATopic%3A43397
Pat, I understand your frustration in this...as believers we want to share the gospel and tell people how beautiful it is to be free.. It is best to start with those who are willing, not the ones who want to spread their false teachings. Let's care for the ones who are really seeking for Jesus and an intimacy with Him.
Blessings, Carla
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Linda Ruth,
perhpas this article will help from www.gotquestions.org.
Question: "If Jesus was God, how could He pray to God? Was Jesus praying to Himself?"
Answer: To understand Jesus as God on earth praying to His Father in heaven, we need to realize that the eternal Father and the eternal Son had an eternal relationship before Jesus took upon Himself the form of a man. Please read John 5:19-27, particularly verse 23 where Jesus teaches that the Father sent the Son (also see John 15:10). Jesus did not become the Son of God when He was born in Bethlehem. He has always been the Son of God from eternity past, still is the Son of God, and always will be.
Isaiah 9:6 tells us that the Son was given and the Child was born. Jesus was always part of the tri-unity, along with the Holy Spirit. The tri-unity always existed, the Father God, the Son God, and the Spirit God, not three gods, but one God existing as three persons. Jesus taught that He and His Father are one (John 10:30), meaning that He and His Father are of the same substance and the same essence. The Father, Son and Spirit are three co-equal persons existing as God. These three had, and continue to have, an eternal relationship.
When Jesus, the eternal Son of God, took upon Himself sinless humanity He also took on the form of a servant, giving up His heavenly glory (Philippians 2:5-11). As the God-man, He had to learn obedience (Hebrews 5:8) to His Father as He was tempted by Satan, accused falsely by men, rejected by His people, and eventually crucified. His praying to His heavenly Father was to ask for power (John 11:41-42) and wisdom (Mark 1:35, 6:46). His praying showed His dependence upon His Father in His humanity to carry out His Father's plan of redemption, as evidenced in Christ's high priestly prayer in John 17. His praying demonstrated that He ultimately submitted to His Father's will, which was to go to the cross and pay the penalty (death) for our breaking God's law (Matthew 26:31-46). Of course, He rose bodily from the grave, winning forgiveness and eternal life for those who repent of sin and believe in Him as the Savior.
There is no problem with God the Son praying or talking to God the Father. As mentioned, they had an eternal relationship before Christ became a man. This relationship is depicted in the Gospels so we can see how the Son of God in His humanity carried out His Father's will, and in doing so, purchased redemption for His children (John 6:38). Christ’s continual submission to His heavenly Father was empowered and kept focused through His prayer life. Christ’s example of prayer is ours to follow.
Jesus Christ was no less God on earth when praying to His Father in heaven. He was depicting how even in sinless humanity it is necessary to have a vital prayer life in order to do His Father’s will. Jesus' praying to the Father was a demonstration of His relationship within the Trinity and an example for us that we must rely on God through prayer for the strength and wisdom we need. Since Christ, as the God-man, needed to have a vibrant prayer life, so should the follower of Christ today.
Recommended Resource: Jesus: The Greatest Life of All by Charles Swindoll.
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Permalink Reply by Rod Askew on
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Hi Carla,
Your answer that you posted doesn't make logical sense to me. Maybe it is just me and I am to thick to understand.:
your answer: To understand Jesus as God on earth praying to His Father in heaven, we need to realize that the eternal Father and the eternal Son had an eternal relationship before Jesus took upon Himself the form of a man. Please read John 5:19-27, particularly verse 23 where Jesus teaches that the Father sent the Son (also see John 15:10). Jesus did not become the Son of God when He was born in Bethlehem. He has always been the Son of God from eternity past, still is the Son of God, and always will be.
How it reads to me: God sent the Son of God to the world but he was God who spoke to God as if he was another being but was the same one and later return to God but in fact he never left God because they are the same being.
Is this how you understand it to be, because this confuses me?
I have a son as do you.
If I die tomorrow he is still Rod's son not part of Rod in a triunity.
He is out of me and will always be my son, but he is not me and will not return to me when he dies.
I appreciate that I am not God or Jesus, but the simple logic of the comment does not make sense unless you use the reasoning "that's how it is because that's what we have been taught".
The doctrine of the trinity was formally included by Constantine at the Council of Nicea which of course was the precursor to the catholic doctrine which has been condemned on this site by everyone.
I appreciate that Fisherman or imperator, whoever he was came in like a sledgehammer debuncking the doctine, however I for one would be very keen to hear from either yourself, LT, Greg , DV or anyone else that can use their own rationale and not a "cut and pasted" response from anothers website.
This is an extremely important doctrine that sits at the very centre of the majority of Christian belliefs. If it cannot be explained in layman terms by pastors or elders to an unbeliever or a new believer in Christ, then perhaps it needs to be better explained or rethought.
I mean no offence to anyone. Just searching
Blessings
Rod
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Hi Rod,
No offense taken. :)
Let's take it one point at a time.
What do you make of these verses?
Jhn 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jhn 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Jhn 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Jhn 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Jhn 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
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Hey Rod,
I appreciate your question. We dealt with the question in the past. It was a very popular discussion. Check it out.
I want to know more about the existences of this trinity and some fact to proof it from the scripture. Thanks
http://www.allaboutgod.net/forum/topics/trinity-1?id=1383940%3ATopi...
Blessings bro
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Don't need to check out the other thread David,
this is here and now and there has been another person deleted for having an opinion.
Read LT comments below with which I agree.
We are not 100% certain of the trinity doctrine and therefore the "proof" you speak of is mere conjecture.
Blessings
Rod
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Hi Rod,
should we allow false teachings to continue here? Is scripture reduced to our opinions? -
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Rod,
I did not say that the Trinity cannot be proved. I said we cannot prove why Jesus prayed. If it came out different than that, my mistake in communicating clearly.
Lord Bless,
LT -
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Hey bro,
Don't really know how you mean your first para. It was a great discussion. I go back to it and enjoy it from time to time. I just thought you would enjoy it.
As far as people being deleted. I thank God for moderators and administration that are led by God to stand up for the truth and think we should all pray for them and Praise God for the service to the Kingdom they give.
Well LT was not referring to the doctrine of the trinity/deity when He wrote that. He was talking about the original question of the thread.
I am saying all this in love and wish we had (I think they call it Skype) tone and cameras, so you would know that I am not trying to be argumentative with this response.
Love you and blessings to you my brother. :) -
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Rod, I also understood that LT was referring to the original question of the thread not the Trinity. These were his words:
"Has anyone considered that the answer to the question is unknowable. The Bible does not come straight out and state "Jesus prayed to the Father because ...""
....nothing to do with the Trinity. -
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Hi Carla,
Unfortunately scripture is quite often reduced to opinions.
Otherwise there would be one church, one bible, one denomination and one opinion.
The fact is that the Catholics have a different opinion to the JW and to the SDA to the Baptists on and on and on.
Denominations with different opinions and POV continue to pop up today and become NEW churches with the truth and some claim the only truth.
Are they all wrong because they do not line up with what you or I believe.
This is an ongoing search as as you are aware, yesterdays Catholic may be tomorrows prodestant or JW or SDA etc etc.
Are we so arrogant as to say that our truth is the right truth.
I for one would never dare make such a statement.
I am learning and I am not too proud to listen to everyones POV not just the masses.
So called Heretics, who were in the truth were burned at the stake for speaking out.
Who will stand righteous before God at judgement, the heretics or the accusers/ murderers?
Blessings to all
Rod -
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