Jesus oftentimes prayed. Once, when He had ended His prayer, one of the disciples said: Lord, teach us to pray, as John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray. Jesus answered: When ye pray, ye shall say:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. (Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4.)
Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him and went up into a high mountain to pray. And as He was praying, He was transfigured before them, and His face did shine as the sun, and His garments became white as snow. And they saw Moses and Elijah, who spoke with Him about His sufferings and death, which awaited Him in Jerusalem. Peter said: Lord, it is good for us to be here. If Thou wilt we will make three tabernacles, one for Thee, one for Moses and one for Elijah. While he was yet speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said: Arise, and be not afraid. And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, save Jesus only. (Matt. 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36.)
Many brought little children to Jesus, that He should touch them. The disciples rebuked those that brought the children. But Jesus said: Suffer little children to come unto me; and forbid them not, for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. Unless ye repent and become as little children, ye can not enter therein. And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands upon them. (Mark 10:13-16.)
On His last journey to Jerusalem Jesus came through Jericho. Here resided a man by the name of Zaccheus; he was the chief publican in Jericho and was very rich. He was anxious to see Jesus, but could not for the people, as he was small of stature. He therefore ran on before, and climbed up in a tree. When Jesus came to the place and saw him He said: Zaccheus, make haste and come down, for today I must abide at thy house. And Zaccheus made haste and received Him with joy. But those who saw it murmured, saying: He is gone in to lodge with a sinful man! Zaccheus said to the Lord: Behold, half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold. And Jesus answered him: The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19: 1-10.)
The Pharisees were outwardly blameless, and for a show made long prayers; but in secret they robbed widows of their property. They were like graves, outwardly whitened, but inwardly full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Jesus told them these things openly, and they therefore became His enemies; for man does not wish that his evil works shall come to the light.—They believed that they for the sake of their righteousness should inherit the kingdom of God; but Jesus preached conversion and faith, and said that publicans and sinners would go into the Kingdom of Heaven before them. The Pharisees wished to be greeted in the market-places and be called Rabbi, and they were envious, for the multitude clung to Jesus because of His blessed words and His miracles. They would not understand Moses and the prophets, and expected that the Messiah should establish the kingdom of David again, and bring the Romans and other nations under the Jews. Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world, and that He should be persecuted and crucified, and on the third day arise again from the dead. For all these things the Pharisees and priests hated Jesus, and took counsel how they could kill Him. Man always finds an excuse. The high priest Caiaphas said: It is better that one man die for the people, than that the whole nation should be destroyed.
The Sadducees taught that there is no resurrection from the dead, and they therefore held the doctrine of Jesus concerning resurrection and final judgment in derision and gave not the Word room in their hearts.