How did Jesus Pray: The Gospels contain many references to Jesus praying, including:
Matthew 14:23: Jesus went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Matthew 26:36-44: Jesus went with three disciples, left them behind and went further to pray alone. This is the well known passage in which his disciples fell asleep at Gethsemane, just before Jesus' arrest and execution. Mark 1:35: Jesus is went to a solitary place to pray. Luke 3:21: This passage describes how Jesus was baptized and was in prayer when the Holy Ghost descended. Unfortunately, this passage does not describe how and where Jesus was praying. Luke 5:16: Jesus is described as often going to lonely places to pray by himself Luke 6:12: Jesus withdrew to a mountainside to pray. Verse 13 implies that he was alone at the time. Luke 9:19: Jesus was praying alone, with his disciples in the vicinity. Luke 22:41-43: Jesus withdrew from his disciples "about a stone's throw" to pray by himself. John 16, 17: These chapters are ambiguous about the circumstances of Jesus' prayer just before his arrest. He first talked to his disciples; then he prayed, then he went with his disciples across the Kidron valley. It is not clear where the disciples were situated when Jesus prayed. But if he was consistent with the pattern described in other passages, he would have left the disciples behind, and prayed in private.
It would appear that Jesus engaged in private prayer, away from other people. His actions might be interpreted as showing his disapproval of public prayer.
Now this is discussion! Let me clear you up on what the bible says about corporate prayer. In fact, when the church is established in the book of Acts, the people simply gather every single day for fellowship, prayer, the breaking of bread and the instruction in the Apostles’ doctrine. And they gather everywhere. Yes, they gather in the temple and they gather in homes. And they gather wherever they meet because worship is decentralized in the establishment of the New Covenant. Every place becomes a sanctuary. Every place becomes a place of worship. Read the book of Acts and then decide what scripture says about public prayer.
