If Jesus is God, why did He pray to God?
The Devotional Answer
This question touches on one of the deepest mysteries of the Christian faith: the nature of Jesus Christ. If He is the second person of the Trinity, one with the Father, why did He spend so much time in earnest prayer?
The Simple Answer
Jesus prayed because He was fully human and because He was modeling the perfect dependence and submission that God desires from humanity. As the Son of God, He communicated with the Father (God to God); as the Son of Man, He relied on the Father (Man to God).
The Deeper Dive: The Two Natures of Christ
The key to understanding Jesus's prayer life is the doctrine of the Hypostatic Union, which simply means Jesus has two complete and distinct natures united in one person: He is 100% God and 100% Man.
1. He Prayed as a Perfect Man
When Jesus took on human flesh, He willingly accepted the limitations and experiences of a man. His prayer life demonstrates His perfect humanity.
Modeling Obedience and Reliance: Jesus came to be the perfect example of human life. A perfect human life is one that is completely dependent on God the Father. By constantly praying, Jesus showed us that no matter how gifted or powerful a person is, they must rely on God for strength, guidance, and power.
Luke 5:16 (NIV) shows this pattern: "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." He set the example that communion with the Father is essential.
The Power of Prayer for Ministry: Jesus faced fatigue, temptation, sorrow, and massive demands on His ministry. He used prayer to draw strength and stay focused on the Father's will. He prayed before major decisions (like choosing the apostles) and before facing the greatest challenges (like His coming crucifixion).
In the Garden of Gethsemane, He expressed the depth of His human anguish and submitted to the Father's will (Luke 22:42): "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." This shows His perfect human will submitting to the divine will.
2. He Prayed as a Member of the Trinity
While His prayers were offered in human language, they were also a reflection of the eternal, loving relationship within the Godhead (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Communion, not Begging: Jesus’ prayers were often not just requests, but deep, intimate conversations. As the eternally begotten Son, His relationship with the Father is unique. When He prayed, He was affirming this relationship for our benefit.
Speaking on Our Behalf: Some of Jesus’ most famous prayers are focused on His disciples and future believers, as recorded in John 17. This is called His High Priestly Prayer, where He interceded for others—a role only a mediator (a perfect man who is also God) can fill.
John 17:1 (NIV): "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may in turn glorify you." Here, He is speaking as the divine Son, preparing to complete His mission.
God’s Assurance
Jesus’ prayer life reassures us that He truly understands our human struggles. He knows what it’s like to need strength and guidance because He experienced it perfectly while He was on earth.
"Because he himself was tempted in that which he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
— Hebrews 2:18 (ASV)
Your Takeaway Thought
Jesus praying doesn't mean He was less God; it shows He was truly human and that perfect humanity is defined by total, continual dependence on the Father. He prayed so we could understand how we should live and connect with God.
