I thought this week I'd share with you my devotion from this morning. I've been going through the New Testament and reflecting on every mention of prayer, as well as the prayers of Jesus and his disciples. I'm currently in the letter to the Hebrews, where it talks about the prayer life of Jesus. I hope you find it encouraging as you bring the lost before God in prayer.

Scripture: Hebrews 5:7, ‘In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.’

Observations: One of themes of Hebrews is that Jesus is our high-priest. It says, ‘[Jesus] had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (2:17)’ And just like the high-priest didn’t chose himself, but was called by God (5:1-4), ‘So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by [God]. (5:5)’ The writer tells us that ‘in the days of his flesh’ or ‘during his earthly life,’ ‘Jesus offered up prayers and supplications.’ Like the high-priest ‘offered up gifts and sacrifices, (v1)’ on behalf of sinful people, so Jesus offered up prayers on behalf of sinful people. Secondly, Jesus prayed ‘with loud cries and tears.’ He wasn’t dispassionate in his prayers, rather he prayed from a deep sense of concern for people. Thirdly, Jesus prayed ‘to him who was able to save him from death.’ Jesus knew that his mission was ‘to make propitiation for the sins of God’s people, (2:17)’ he knew that he had to die on the cross, but he also knew that God would raise him from the dead, he knew his Father had power over life and death. Finally, it says, Jesus ‘was heard because of his reverence.’ The word ‘reverence’ has a range of meanings from godly fear, to piety and devoutness. The next verse says Jesus ‘learned obedience through what he suffered, (v8)’ and that he was ‘made perfect. (v9)’ God heard Jesus’ prayers because he was without sin (4:15), he perfectly obeyed his heavenly Father.

Application: Jesus was motivated to pray to God for two reasons. Firstly, because of his deep concern over the eternal fate of people. Jesus understood the consequences of people’s sin and he cried out to God. Secondly, Jesus prayed to God because only God can save. Only God could save him from death, and only God can save sinners like you and me. And God heard Jesus because Jesus was worthy, because Jesus was obedient, because Jesus was perfect, because Jesus revered God. And God hears us because in Jesus we too have been made perfect, in Jesus God sees us as righteous, as obedient. In Jesus we have been made worthy to approach God (4:16). Because of Jesus we can pray to God and know that God hears our prayers. Do you pray to God knowing that only God can save you from death, and not just death in this life, but eternal death? Do you pray to God that he would save your friends and family and neighbours from hell? Do you pray ‘with loud cries and tears’ for the lost and the broken?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the prayers of Jesus. I thank You for His great love for the lost, for people like me. I thank You that He loved me so much that He prayed for me, that He left heaven for me, that He died on the cross for me, and that He lives and sits at Your right hand interceding for me. Lord I pray that You would fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that Jesus’ love and concern for the lost might grow in me. Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours. May I pray to you with loud cries and tears. May I know Your great love for people, even for those who are Your enemies. Like Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him, may I pray for those who are so far from You that they seem beyond redemption. Because You O God are the One who can save people from death, and so I turn to You because of Your mercy and power. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.