WHERE JESUS PRAYED
Given Jesus’ teachings about the private nature of prayer, we would expect that he would not pray in violation of those teachings. We find this to be true in the following reports of where Jesus prayed. We will not be able to understand the examples, however, unless we first understand the symbolism of mountains.
Hebrews 9:24: For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
COMMENTARY: The holy place is a clean, pure heart which is also called the kingdom of God and heaven. The “us” for whom Christs (i.e. messiahs) pray is people with evil, impure hearts. The heart attitude (i.e. prayer) of messiahs is embodied in the Lord’s Prayer.
See Kingdom of God/Heaven for understanding of heaven.
Matthew 26:36-46: Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 “Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”
COMMENTARY: Even on this occasion of extreme stress, Jesus did not pray with his disciples. This is not how religious people respond to times of stress. They usually want to hold a prayer meeting. This is not what Jesus did.
Luke 22:39-46: And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40 When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
COMMENTARY: Again this story told in Matthew 26:36-46 and Luke 22:39-46: would at first appear to be an example of Jesus not following his own teaching by allowing others to hear him pray. Since he would not do that, we must look for an explanation that does not condemn what he did.
The way we see it, Jesus satisfied the intent of his teachings about praying in secret by separating himself from his disciples. Apparently they still heard him pray, but that was not because of his failure to separate himself.
Mark 1:35-36: In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon and his companions searched for Him;
COMMENTARY: Jesus went out of his way to make sure that his friends could not find him praying. This contrasts with religious people who want other to know that they pray.
Luke 9:18: And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?”
COMMENTARY: It seems to be a contradiction that Jesus could be praying alone and that the disciples were with him. It is not a contradiction, however, if Jesus is praying in the spirit and not praying verbally. Because prayer is a heart attitude and not audible human words, it is possible to pray while being in the company of others.
Luke 11:1: It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”
COMMENTARY: It is interesting to notice that the place in which Jesus prayed in this scripture is not specifically identified. The “certain place” is a symbolic reference to praying in the spirit (i.e. in his heart). In other words, the physical location in which he was praying was not important because he was praying in his spirit.
John 6:15: So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.
COMMENTARY:
See this link for understanding of the mountain of God.
Mark 6:46: After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.
COMMENTARY: See this link for understanding of the mountain of God.
Luke 6:12-13: It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles:
COMMENTARY: See comment above.