The Prayer of Jesus (part 1)

It's all there! Everything we need to know about communicating with God, in the prayer of Jesus. It is the perfect prayer. That being said, it is also tragic to think that, in some circles, the Lord's prayer has been reduced to vain repetition, while in others it has been all but forgotten. While the prayer of Jesus is not a prayer mantra, it is a prayer manner. As such, it has been eloquently described as the most majestic of all model prayers:


It is a model prayer and, as such, commends itself to the most superficial glance- approves itself at once to the conscience of man. It is beautiful and symmetrical, like the most finished work of art. The words are plain and unadorned, yet majestic; and so transparent and appropriate that, once fixed in the memory, no other expressions ever mix themselves up with them; the thought of substituting other words never enters the mind. Grave and solemn are the petitions, yet the serenity and tranquil confidence, the peace and joy which they breath, prove attractive to the heart. The prayer is short, that it may be quickly learned , easily remembered, and frequently used; but it contains all things pertaining to life and godliness ( Philip Ryken, When You Pray ,9).


Are you ready? Let's begin!


Our Father in Heaven

To the disciples, the opening words of the Prayer of Jesus must have been nothing short of scandalous. Of all the things they had ever learned about prayer, this was certainly not one of them. The name of God was so sacred to the Jewish people that they were not even permitted to say the name of God aloud, let alone refer to Him as "our Father." Yet that is precisely how Jesus taught His disciples to pray.

There was however, a catch. As John explains, only those who received Jesus and believed on His name had the right to refer to God as "our Father (Jn. 1:12). In fact, Jesus made it clear that there are only two kinds of people in the world: those who should refer to Satan as "our father" and those who may refer to God as "our Father" (Jn. 8:44-47). There are no other options.

In one sense, Jesus is the only one who could legitimately address God as Father, for He is the unique Son of God and has been so throughout eternity (Jn. 1:2). However, as Paul explains in Romans 8, those who are lead by the Spirit of God are no longer illegitimate children. Instead, they, too, are sons and daughters by adoption through faith in Jesus. Thus, they can legitimately refer to God as "our Father."

Jesus continues the pattern by teaching his disciples to qualify the phrase "our Father" with the words, in heaven." In doing so He is teaching us that God transcends time and space. We can address Him with intimacy but never with impudence. He is the sovereign Creator, and we are but sinful creatures. Addressing God as "our Father" makes us mindful of our place, in relationship to God. Thus, adding the phrase,"in heaven" reminds us of the reverence due to his name.


Hallowed be your Name


The initial request of the prayer of Jesus is that God's name be made holy. To pray "hallowed be your name" is to put the emphasis on God first, exactly where it belongs. In other words, our daily lives should radiate a far greater commitment to God's nature and holiness than to our needs. To pray "hallowed be your name" is to pray that God be given the unique reverence (respect) that His holiness demands. That God's Word be preached without corruption; that our churches be led by faithful pastors and preserved from false prophets, that we be kept from language that profanes God's name; that our lives remain holy; and that we cease from seeking honor for ourselves and seek instead that God's name be glorified.


Continued....