Come Be My Follower - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site

134
“COMEBEMYFOLLOWER”
14 Jesus also kept his love for Jehovah strong by praying
regularly. Although he was a friendly, gregarious man, it
is striking to note that he valued solitude. For example,
Luke 5:16 says: “He continued in retirement in the deserts
and praying.” Similarly, Matthew 14:23 states: “Eventually,
having sent the crowds away, he went up into the
mountain by himself to pray. Though it became late, he
was there alone.” Jesus sought solitude on these and other
occasions, not because he was a recluse or hated the
company of others, but because he wanted to be alone
with Jehovah, to speak freely with his Father in prayer.
15 When he prayed, Jesus would at times use the expression
“Abba, Father.” (Mark 14:36) In Jesus’ day, “Abba”
was an intimate word for “father,” a family word. It was
often among the first words that a child would learn.
Yet, it was respectful. While the word revealed the intimacy
of the Son speaking to his beloved Father, it also
conveyed profound respect for Jehovah’s fatherly authority.
We find that combination of intimacy and respect
throughout Jesus’ recorded prayers. For example, in John
chapter 17, the apostle John recorded the long and heartfelt
prayer that Jesus offered on His final night. It is truly
moving for us to study that prayer and vital that we
imitate it—not by repeating Jesus’ words, of course, but
by finding ways to speak from the heart to our heavenly
Father as often as we can. Doing so will keep our love for
him alive and strong.
16 As we noted earlier, Jesus did not repeatedly utter the
words “I love the Father.” However, many times he did
14, 15. (a) Why did Jesus seek solitude? (b) How did Jesus’ prayers
to his Father reveal intimacy and respect?
16, 17. (a) How did Jesus put his love for his Father into words?
(b) How did Jesus portray his Father’s generosity?
“He went up into the mountain by himself to pray”