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"Father, I Thank You That You Have Heard Me."

So they took away the stone.
         Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!
               The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
        Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:41-44)

          We only just recently covered this passage, but this time, let’s look at it as a prayer. It doesn’t follow the pattern Jesus taught, beyond beginning with “Father,” and being simple. It comes across almost as if He is saying, “OK, Father, let us make this very clear to these folks….” He never asks for Lazarus to be revived. He never even mentions Lazarus. All He seems to pray about here is His relationship with the Father and Their relationship with the people who were there.
         This brings to mind prayers today, in which someone begins, “Father, I lift John Doe up to you this evening. You know that he is suffering greatly with this horrible situation, how his great aunt, Gerta, who moved in with him last month has (insert malady) and his marriage to Philomena has been strained. His children, Thomasina, Dick, and Harriet are acting out, and his dog has run away. And now, Father, John has his own physical needs as well (listed…), so please, Lord, won’t you please, if it is Your will to act on his behalf….and Father, please bless the meeting that will take place next Tuesday night at 7:30 pm in the _________ room here at church where we’ll be discussing (topic.)” God knows what’s going on, so why do we feel the need to gossip to Him? (I know, the reality is that we’re informing other people, but why do we feel the need to do so?)
         Similarly, some people feel the need to pepper their prayers with Oh God, Oh Lord, Our Father, Lord Jesus…. Most of us wouldn’t dream of holding a conversation with any human that way: “Hey, Mary, how you doing, Mary. I was thinking, Mary that we should get together for coffee, and Mary, while we’re at it, Mary, could you bring back that book that I lent to you, Mary? Thanks Mary. See you soon, Mary.”
       Once again, Jesus’ answer seems to be to keep it simple.

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