Luke: Physician, Companion, & Prayer Enthralled

Since the grace of God came into my life in May of 2001, one area, if I can say it in such a way, that permeates my life is prayer. This area, per se, is intricately woven into the whole of the Christian life and experience (that is of course should one be true and devoted to Christ). There is something deeply connective, profound, and powerful while in the closet of praying unto the one true God who is the sovereign creator of absolutely everything. Of course, in no way have I mastered prayer, nor become so devoted that I always remember to pray; fact is, there are many times my flesh simply does not want to do this, often it initially is a real work, a mental war, and a plowing of fallow ground (Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12). However, it is always worth it!

Now, I cannot say that I have thought out to search and understand such an overarching topic by myself; however, I can say that the Lord has been teaching and leading me into the various fires that has driven me to a life of prayer. And because of this, extremely deep joy and sweetness has been found in some of the dark night watches, alone with God.

Now, I would dare say, without Luke’s work, accounting, and writing to Theophilus (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-3), much of the history of Jesus, the Apostles, and early church praying would have been lost. Having said this, we will briefly consider Luke with regards to prayer.

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“Eusebius (AD 260-340), considered to be the Father of Early Church History, described Luke the Physician in these terms: ‘Luke, who was by race an Antiochian and a physician by profession, was long a companion of Paul, and had careful conversation with the other Apostles, and in two books left us examples of the medicine for the souls which he had gained from them’ (BiblicalArcheology.org | Eccl. Hist. 3.4.6; LCL 1:197).”

It amazes me that a physician, a man of science and learner as it were, would be the one to record so much regarding the prayer life of Jesus and the praying of the early church. (Maybe this amazes me more because I having been in the medical field for over the last three decades as well?) Not only does he place emphasis on prayer, but as we believe, Luke is the only one to record the stress of Jesus in prayer, a medical anomaly at the time and rarity for sure, called hematidrosis (Luke 22:44). *Side note: Although there is speculation about Luke 22:44 as many of our earliest manuscripts do not include this verse, it should at least be considered within the context of the events surrounding why Jesus was praying. The Wycliffe Bible (1382), Coverdale Bible (1535), and the Geneva Bible (1560), some of the earliest versions of the Bible, all include Luke’s account. Considering it is physically and medically confirmed possible, I believe it should be strongly considered and applied to context – the gravity of Jesus’ hour of prayer and relation to the ‘cup’.

“..and his swot was maad as dropis of blood rennynge doun in to the erthe.“
Luke 22:44, Wycliff Bible (1382)

“And it came so, that he wrestled with death, and prayed the longer. And his sweate was like droppes of bloude, runnynge downe to the grounde.”
Luke 22:44, Coverdale Bible (1535)

Below is the list of verses where Luke writes with regards to prayer (key words included: pray, prays, prayer, prayers, prayed).

As you can see from the list above, without a doubt, Luke wrote themed around Jesus praying (Book of Luke) and the early church praying (Book of Acts). As a matter of fact, 15 of the 28 chapters of Acts mentions prayer, and his first book, Luke, including 11 of 24 chapters speaking of prayer (of course chapters and verses did not show up until the Wycliffe English Bible of 1382).

Keep in mind, Luke was used to studying, reading and researching (helpful for Luke 22:44), however, I can only imagine how prayer seemed to have challenged his logic, at least at first. I believe, after hearing about all the stories and his first-hand witnessing of unexplainable miracles, prayer became to him a very real experience of unusual strength and joy, thus he was compelled to include such a revelatory phenomenon of the day.

But make no mistake, prayer was no phenomenon of the true Christian; rather, it was the very lifeline between the temporal-physical and the lasting-eternal. It was an absolute necessity to both communion and worship, for knowledge and wisdom, for necessary submission and direction.

But woe, let me ask regarding our day and age and those in church leadership today, what has the church, more specifically certain people claiming to be Christians, done to prayer in our local church bodies today? Have they not bantered, abused, twisted, controlled, and finally done away with corporate prayer altogether? Oh, most certainly! But woe to them who do not repent of such a matter.

So, what do you and I, individually and corporately do with all of this? Should we not long to carry out the will of God and draw close in communion with Him, both corporately and in the prayer closet shut-up unto God? Indeed, yes.

I am including a few means of grace, helpful resources, for moving forward in one of the most blessed areas of the Christian life.

• Prayer Sometimes Tarrieth
• Initial Seven Days of Prayer: Entering a Life of Prayer
• Resources and Links Regarding Prayer
• On Man’s Walk with God: Preparing for Trials and Fears (my book)
• Thinking on Jesus and His Life of Prayer
• George Muller on the Word of God and Prayer
• Sunday Morning Prayer: Will You Find Faith in Me?
• Trials: How Should I Respond?

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