Jesus Pray to the Father Basic 4 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

Explanation of the Word Prayer

What is Prayer?

Prayer = Talking to God like we talk to our best friend

Simple Definition

• Prayer is having a conversation with God
• It means speaking to God and listening to Him
• Prayer is sharing our thoughts and feelings with God
• It’s like calling God on a special phone that always works

What Prayer Includes

Talking to God:

• Telling God about our day
• Sharing our problems and worries
• Asking God for help and guidance
• Expressing our feelings to God

Listening to God:

• Being quiet so God can speak to us
• Waiting for God’s answers
• Paying attention to what God says in our hearts
• Reading the Bible to hear God’s words

Different Types of Prayer:

• Praise – Telling God how great He is
• Thanksgiving – Saying “thank you” for God’s blessings
• Confession – Saying sorry for our sins
• Petition – Asking God for things we need
• Intercession – Praying for other people

When and Where We Can Pray

• Anytime – Morning, afternoon, night
• Anywhere – At home, school, church, outside
• Any position – Standing, sitting, kneeling, lying down
• Any way – Out loud, silently, with others, alone

Why Prayer is Important

• It connects us with God
• It gives us peace and comfort
• It helps us know God’s will
• It strengthens our faith
• It brings answers to our needs

Why Jesus Prayed

Jesus Prayed Because He Loved the Father

• Jesus enjoyed spending time with God the Father
• He wanted to show His love through prayer
• Prayer was Jesus’ way of staying close to the Father
• He found joy in talking with God

Example: Jesus often went to quiet places to pray alone with the Father

Jesus Prayed to Get Strength and Power

• Even though Jesus was God, He needed strength as a human
• Prayer gave Him power to do miracles
• It helped Him face difficult situations
• Prayer prepared Him for important events

Example: Before choosing His 12 disciples, Jesus prayed all night (Luke 6:12)

Jesus Prayed to Know God’s Will

• Jesus wanted to do exactly what the Father wanted
• Prayer helped Him understand God’s plan
• He sought the Father’s guidance for decisions
• Jesus never acted without consulting the Father

Example: In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed “Your will be done, not mine” (Luke 22:42)

Jesus Prayed to Set an Example for Us

• Jesus wanted to teach us how to pray
• He showed us that prayer is important
• Jesus demonstrated different ways to pray
• He wanted us to follow His example

Example: Jesus taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

Jesus Prayed Before Important Events

• Before starting His ministry
• Before choosing disciples
• Before performing miracles
• Before going to the cross

Jesus Prayed for Others (Intercession)

• He prayed for His disciples
• He prayed for all believers
• He prayed for His enemies
• He prayed for people who hurt Him

Example: Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith wouldn’t fail (Luke 22:31-32)

Jesus Prayed in Times of Trouble

• When He was sad or worried
• When facing difficult decisions
• When people rejected Him
• When preparing for death

Example: Jesus prayed with tears in the Garden of Gethsemane (Hebrews 5:7)

Content of Jesus’ Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

Jesus taught us to pray using this model:

“Our Father in heaven”

• Meaning: God is our loving Father who lives in heaven
• Content: Recognizing God as our Father and His holy dwelling place

“Hallowed be your name”

• Meaning: May your name be honored and respected
• Content: Praising God and showing reverence for His holy name

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

• Meaning: Let God rule and let His plans happen on earth
• Content: Asking for God’s kingdom and submitting to His will

“Give us today our daily bread”

• Meaning: Provide what we need each day
• Content: Asking for physical needs like food, shelter, clothing

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”

• Meaning: Forgive our sins as we forgive others who hurt us
• Content: Confession of sin and commitment to forgive others

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”

• Meaning: Keep us away from sin and protect us from Satan
• Content: Asking for protection from evil and strength to resist sin

Jesus’ Prayer for His Disciples (John 17)

This prayer includes:

Prayer for the Disciples’ Protection:

• “Keep them safe in your name” (John 17:11)
• Asking God to watch over His followers
• Protecting them from spiritual harm

Prayer for Unity:

• “That they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11)
• Asking for believers to love each other
• Praying for church unity and peace

Prayer for Joy:

• “That they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13)
• Asking for His followers to be truly happy
• Praying for spiritual blessing and contentment

Prayer for Sanctification:

• “Sanctify them by the truth” (John 17:17)
• Asking God to make them holy
• Praying for spiritual growth and purity

Prayer for Future Believers:

• “For those who will believe in me through their message” (John 17:20)
• Praying for people who would become Christians later
• Including us in His prayer!

Jesus’ Prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-44)

Content of this prayer:

Honest Expression of Feelings:

• “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow”
• Jesus shared His true emotions with God
• He didn’t hide His fear and sadness

Request for Another Way:

• “If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me”
• Jesus asked if there was another way to save people
• He expressed His human desire to avoid suffering

Submission to God’s Will:

• “Yet not as I will, but as you will”
• Jesus chose to obey God even when it was hard
• He put God’s plan above His own desires

Repeated Prayer:

• Jesus prayed the same prayer three times
• Shows persistence and earnestness in prayer
• Demonstrates that it’s okay to pray about the same thing multiple times

Jesus’ Prayer on the Cross (Luke 23:34, 46)

Content included:

Prayer for Forgiveness:

• “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”
• Jesus prayed for His enemies
• He asked God to forgive those who crucified Him

Prayer of Trust:

• “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”
• Jesus trusted God completely, even in death
• He surrendered His life to the Father

Common Elements in Jesus’ Prayers

1. Praise and worship – Honoring God’s greatness
2. Submission to God’s will – Accepting God’s plan
3. Requests for others – Praying for people He loved
4. Trust in God’s goodness – Believing God would answer
5. Persistence – Continuing to pray even when difficult

Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. Prayer is _______ to God like we talk to our best friend.
2. Jesus prayed to get _______ and power from the Father.
3. The Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our _______ in heaven.”
4. Jesus prayed for His _______ even while dying on the cross.

Exercise 2: True or False

1. Prayer is only talking to God, not listening. _____
2. Jesus prayed all night before choosing His disciples. _____
3. We can only pray in church. _____
4. Jesus taught us the Lord’s Prayer as an example. _____