On the hard-packed, hot, and dusty paths of Palestine they had walked with Him. In the chill rains of winter they had stayed with Him. In the cool and windy days of early spring, they had talked with Him, eaten the Passover meal with Him the night before, and crossed the swollen brook Kidron with Him. So when Pilate asked the Jews on that first Good Friday morning, "What then shall I do with Jesus?" they could have told him of many things that they had done with him. Pilate, of course, wanted to know how to dispose of Jesus, but in the gloom of the olive-grove garden we see Him praying and are encouraged once again to PRAY WITH HIM.
Pray with Him? You couldn't walk very long with Jesus without seeing Him pray. Before Jesus left the upper room, He had been praying for His disciples, and for all who would believe on Him through their testimony. That prayer fills the entire seventeenth chapter of the Gospel according to John.
Nor was that the only time Jesus prayed during His three year ministry. At His baptism, Luke tells us He was praying (3:21). As crowds of people came to hear be healed, Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:16). Before He chose the twelve apostles, He spent the night in prayer (Luke 6:12). At the time of Peter's great confession, "You are the Christ of God," Jesus had just been praying (Luke 9:18). At the time of His transfiguration on the mountain, He was praying (Luke 9:29). It was His praying that prompted the disciples' request: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).
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