JESUS PRAYED ALL NIGHT

Luke 6:12-19 / Keywords 6:12

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

The Twelve Apostles

6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Blessings and Woes

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

 

1. What keeps you up at night? Jesus cared about the suffering people of the world deeply and passionately. He saw crowds of people like sheep without a shepherd and like fields ripe for harvest. People needed to know the truth that God was really with them and cared for their healing and for their blossoming into the fullness of God's image and life in them. Although he was tired, he had to pray, in a solitary place, and be heard by God and to hear His voice.

2. The next morning, Jesus chose 12 disciples and designated them apostles. They would follow Jesus and learn from him. They would be a start of a new movement that would extend the love and healing of God to the whole world. They were all different, yet Jesus saw a beauty in diversity and loved each one of them, entrusting them with the keys to the kingdom of God, even though one would betray him.

Prayer Lord, hear us when we pray and open our hearts to hear your wisdom. Are you calling me, as I am, to share in the work of caring for the world around me? Help me to do so.

One Word Pray