Topical Bible: Prayer: After the Supper

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In the context of the New Testament, prayer after the supper holds significant theological and spiritual importance. This practice is most notably observed in the events surrounding the Last Supper, where Jesus Christ, after sharing the Passover meal with His disciples, engages in profound prayer. This moment is pivotal in understanding the role of prayer in the life of Jesus and its implications for Christian practice.

Biblical Context

The Last Supper, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John, marks the final meal Jesus shares with His disciples before His crucifixion. After the meal, Jesus leads His disciples to the Mount of Olives, specifically to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He engages in earnest prayer. This event is detailed in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, and Luke 22:39-46.

In the Gospel of Matthew, it is written: "Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to the disciples, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.' He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed" (Matthew 26:36-37). This passage highlights the solemnity and intensity of the moment, as Jesus prepares for His impending suffering and crucifixion.

Theological Significance

Prayer after the supper, particularly in the Garden of Gethsemane, underscores the humanity and divinity of Christ. In His prayer, Jesus expresses deep anguish and submission to the Father's will, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39). This prayer reflects the perfect obedience of Jesus to the divine plan of salvation, serving as a model for believers in their own prayer lives.

The prayer also reveals the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's will above personal desires. It is a moment of vulnerability and strength, where Jesus, fully aware of the suffering He is about to endure, finds solace and resolve through communion with the Father.

Implications for Christian Practice

For Christians, the example of Jesus praying after the supper serves as a powerful reminder of the necessity of prayer in times of trial and decision-making. It encourages believers to approach God with honesty and submission, trusting in His wisdom and sovereignty. The practice of prayer after communal meals, such as the Lord's Supper or Eucharist, can be seen as a continuation of this tradition, fostering a spirit of gratitude, reflection, and unity among believers.

Furthermore, the setting of Gethsemane highlights the importance of finding a quiet place for prayer, away from distractions, where one can focus on communion with God. This practice is echoed in Jesus' earlier teachings on prayer, where He instructs His followers to pray in secret, emphasizing the personal and intimate nature of prayer (Matthew 6:6).

Conclusion

While the entry does not include a formal conclusion, the exploration of prayer after the supper, particularly in the context of the Last Supper and Gethsemane, provides rich insights into the nature of prayer as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. It serves as a profound example for believers, encouraging a life of prayer marked by sincerity, submission, and a deep reliance on God's will.

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John 17:1
These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify your Son, that your Son also may glorify you:
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Library

Prayer after Communion.
... Schaff cites a similar prayer at the Passover (after the Hallel ... [2462] "After the
participation ... Here the Lord's Supper is evidently connected with the Agape [a ...
/.../various/the teaching of the twelve apostles/chapter x name after communion.htm

Of what Took Place in the Piece of Ground or Garden to which they ...
... Garden to Which They Came on Leaving the House After the Supper; And of ... it is stated
there that] He came to His disciples after His third prayer, and said ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter iv of what took place.htm

The Answer to Prayer
... There he meets his friends, and after the supper he takes ... We hear much discussion
about prayer and its possibilities,"what we can pray for and what God ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lxiii the answer to prayer.htm

The Holy Supper.
... John, the beloved disciple, kept for us the wonderful and precious words that the
Lord spoke after the Holy Supper. ... After the prayer they went out of the ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxxix the holy supper.htm

Concerning the Lord's Supper
... that first mass of all which Christ celebrated at the Last Supper, the more ... Since
all these gifts were sanctified by the word and prayer after the Hebrew rite ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/concerning the lords supper.htm

Contents.
... Meditations for a Godly Householder, 143 13. A Morning Prayer for a Family, 145
14. Holy Meditations and Graces before and after Dinner and Supper, 149 15. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/contents.htm

Twenty Fourth Sunday after Trinity Prayer and Spiritual Knowledge.
... We must strive after such divine agency and by the ... do we need to be strengthened,
through prayer, with the ... the Gospel and attend upon the Holy Supper, but they ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty fourth sunday after trinity.htm

Appendix V in the Directory.
... Of Prayer after the Sermon. Of the Sacrament of Baptism. Of the Sacrament of
the Lord's Supper. Of the Sanctification of the Lord's Day. ...
/.../luckock/studies in the book of common prayer/appendix v in the directory.htm

The Lord's Supper.
... They all concur in describing the elements, after consecration, as ... used at the
institution of the Lord's Supper are to be ... by the Word of God and prayer, as it ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter iii the lords supper.htm

Modern Movements in Presbyterian Churches Respecting Public ...
... In the administration of "The Lord's Supper" it is recommended that at the ... the Lord's
Prayer is used, as advised before or after the prayer of intercession ...
/.../johnston/presbyterian worship/chapter ix modern movements in.htm