The news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:15-16)
Jesus kept His priorities straight. He never let the demands upon His powers to heal, crowd out His need for prayer. I suppose His disciples thought that He was being extremely selfish in this matter. While Jesus was off praying, multitudes were suffering. Apparently, Jesus had this tremendous need to pray.
Why did Jesus pray? Wasn't He all knowing? Apparently not. Jesus needed to pray for answers. He spent an entire night in prayer before He officially named his twelve apostles. You would think that one simple prayer would have been enough. How long does it take the Heavenly Father to reveal twelve names? If anyone should have been in tune with the voice of God, you would think it would be Jesus.
I suggest that Jesus had no special frequency tuned in to the voice of God the Father. He had the same human limitations that we have. He had to struggle in prayer and wait patiently to hear that still small voice. He most likely had to bring up the names of several potential apostles and wait for the answer to each one.
So what else required Jesus to spend so much time in prayer? Everything! Which villages He should visit? Even the words that He spoke.
You believe, don't you, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own. It is the Father who dwells in me who does his works. (John 14:10)
The life of Jesus was the result of His prayer life. Everything He did and said, was a direct response from His time in prayer.
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