The hearts of the listening disciples were deeply moved. They had marked how often He spent long hours in solitude in communion with His Father. His days were passed in ministry to the crowds that pressed upon Him, and in unveiling the treacherous sophistry of the rabbis, and this incessant labor often left Him so utterly wearied that His mother and brothers, and even His disciples, had feared that His life would be sacrificed. But as He returned from the hours of prayer that closed the toilsome day, they marked the look of peace upon His face, the sense of refreshment that seemed to pervade His presence. It was from hours spent with God that He came forth, morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. The disciples had come to 103 connect His hours of prayer with the power of His words and works. Now, as they listened to His supplication, their hearts were awed and humbled. As He ceased praying, it was with a conviction of their own deep need that they exclaimed, "Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1.

De lyttende disciple følte sig dybt grebene i deres hjerter. De havde lagt mærke til, hvorledes han i ensomhed ofte tilbragte lange timer i samtale med Faderen. Dagene benyttede han til at hjælpe de skarer, der flokkedes omkring ham, og til at blotte rabbineres bestikkende lære. Ved dette uophørlige arbejde blev han ofte så fuldstændig udmattet, at hans moder og hans brødre, ja endog hans disciple havde frygtet for, at det kunne koste ham livet. Men når han vendte tilbage efter de bedetimer, der afsluttede den slidsomme dag, lagde de mærke til det fredfulde udtryk i hans ansigt og til den følelse af friskhed, der syntes at gennemtrænge hans væsen. Det var efter disse timer, som han tilbragte sammen med Gud, at han morgen efter morgen trådte frem for at bringe menneskene himmelens lys. Disciplene var begyndt at sætte hans bedetimer i forbindelse med den kraft, som fulgte hans ord og hans gerninger. Når de nu lyttede til hans påkaldelse, fyldtes de med ærefrygt og følte sig ydmygede. Efter at han var færdig med sin bøn, var det med en følelse af deres egen dybe trang, at de udbrød: »Herre! lær os at bede.« (Luk. 11,1).