The deep thought that prompted this blog post about the Lord’s Prayer is “Why are they asking now?” What are bringing the disciples to the Lord at this moment, in the eleventh of twenty four chapters, to ask after prayer? One rule of life I seek to follow is that if I am going to raise a problem, to consider a fix.
My 'fix' for this question is that something had
triggered the event. I was on a walkabout and the story that ran
through my head was the story of the Recalcitrant Demon that the disciples were unable to
exorcise so the "Big Gun"-Jesus-was called in (and he did). As I recalled, Jesus’
reply was that some demons could only be driven out by prayer. That episode is recorded in Luke, chapter 9,
beginning at verse 37. It is also
recorded in Mark and Matthew. But only
Mark records the detail of Jesus’ response, “This kind can come out only
through prayer.”
Does this dismiss the possibility of a connection? No, the gospels are complimentary to each
other, each with their emphases and focal points in the life and times of Jesus
of Nazareth.
But Luke does provide a ‘triggering event’ at the beginning
of Luke 11. Jesus was in a time of
prayer and the disciples were observing this faithful observance. They (the disciples) observe that John (the
Baptist) taught his disciples how to pray and they want to learn. Luke does record John’s death by beheading
back in chapter 9, so there might be a connection there-especially since, later in chapter 9, Jesus tells them that he too shall see betrayal into human hands.
The plain reading is they see what Jesus is doing and they
want to learn. It seems to have
something to do with John, because John gave ‘prayer lessons’, perhaps his final legacy after his beheading? Now Jesus is talking about that happening to himself... It could have to do with the Recalcitrant Demon. After all, in Mark, Jesus specifics that this
‘kind’ requires prayer to exorcise. But
in Matthew, although Jesus does not invoke the ‘prayer cure’, he does present as
frustrated with their lack of faith in being able to toss the demon...so maybe some kind of 'faith vitamins' to build their strength?
Pull all these details together and there is a
compelling case for learning to pray.
Knowing that other people of faith have this ‘learning’ and that it
seems to serve them well (in this case, the followers of John the
Baptist). Knowing that there are some
things that do not seem achievable in the faith except by prayer (Mark’s
telling of the Recalcitrant Demon).
Knowing that Jesus has been upset with us (the disciples) for displaying
weakness of faith (Matthew’s telling of the Recalcitrant Demon). Knowing that Jesus is speaking of the day when the disciples will be operating on their own because Jesus predicts an endpoint to his life and ministry (Like the whole New Testament).
But the overarching point, Jesus is fully powered up in the
Father. His faith is without issue. His healing capacity is unmatched. And he spends a whole lot of time in personal,
private, out-of-the-public-eye prayer with his Father in heaven.
Some people get caught up in the dynamics, the mechanics of
prayer. What do I say? How often do I say? What are my
intentions? What are expected
results? Those are not wrong questions,
but understanding the “why”, there is the first question. The disciples have had a bunch of chapters to
wonder ‘why’ Jesus is so good at what He does.
Maybe this is why we are almost halfway through the gospel before they
get up the nerve to ask ‘what’ and ‘how’?
Peace
pastor pete
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