Lifting Our Hearts in Prayer, Luke 9:28-42

Read Luke Luke 9:28-42

What do you think prayer is? Usually, when we ask this question, we tend to answer like this: Prayer is the breath of the soul, a conversation with God, and a confession of love.

It is also the key to solving problems and an essential part of a Christian’s faith life.

These definitions are commonly mentioned, but what I truly want to ask is this: What does prayer mean to you personally? Setting aside what books and the Bible say about prayer, how have you experienced it, and what is your subjective understanding of it?

Take a moment to reflect on this. Do you pray every day? If so, why do you pray? And how has prayer significantly impacted your life?

On the other hand, if you feel that prayer has not had a major impact on your life, have you ever thought about why that might be?

When I was young, I often heard my parents say, "Pray." Whether I was struggling with my studies, feeling unwell, having trouble with friends, or facing any situation—good or bad—the answer was always the same: "Pray."

To be honest, even now, when I talk to my parents on the phone, I still hear those words. That’s why, as a child, I really disliked the phrase "Pray." Whenever I sought advice from adults, hoping for a real solution, all I got in return was, "Pray."

However, there was a moment when my perspective on prayer completely changed. It was when I prayed for someone I love—my older brother.

My brother had always been physically weak, and when he enlisted in the military, he weighed only about 115 pounds. As expected, he became very sick in the army and was eventually hospitalized for an extended period in the military hospital. At that time, I couldn’t visit him freely, nor was it easy to talk to him on the phone. There was absolutely nothing I could do for him.

That’s when I had no choice but to pray for him. Through this experience, my understanding of prayer was completely transformed. I realized that prayer is not just about making requests—it is a heartfelt expression of love for someone dear to us.

Today's passage begins with these words: "He took Peter, John, and James with Him and went up on the mountain to pray."

Why do you think Jesus went up a mountain to pray? Throughout His time on earth, Jesus prayed frequently. In fact, the Gospel of Luke even records that "Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray, as was His custom." This means He consistently prayed in the same place.

But why did Jesus specifically choose to go up a mountain to pray?

When we read through the Gospel of Luke, we get the impression that Luke was not particularly fond of mountains. It wasn’t just that he disliked climbing them—he seemed to hold a negative view of them. While Jewish people of that time, especially Matthew and Mark, considered mountains sacred places where they could encounter God, many Gentiles associated mountains with idol worship. Even among early Gentile Christians, mountains were often linked to pagan rituals.

This may be why Luke intentionally avoided mentioning mountains in his Gospel. Since Luke was writing for a Gentile audience, he presented Jesus’ teachings in ways they could relate to. For example, while Matthew records that Jesus delivered the Beatitudes on a mountain, Luke states that Jesus taught them on a level place, possibly to avoid any association with idolatrous worship.

However, despite Luke’s apparent aversion to mountains, he still recorded that Jesus went up a mountain to pray. Why? Because the mountain was a place of transformation—or, more precisely, a place that needed transformation. Through His persistent prayer, Jesus demonstrated that the mountain was not just a physical location but a space meant to be transformed by God’s presence. And He wanted His disciples to understand this as well.

And through today’s passage, we see that Jesus transformed even that mountain—considered unclean by the Gentiles—into a holy place where God’s presence dwelled through prayer.

Dear beloved congregation, where in your life needs transformation? Is it your home? Your workplace? Or perhaps your church?

I encourage you to pray in those places, just as Jesus did. It may seem like nothing is

happening. It may feel as if your prayers are just words floating into the air. But know this—God hears your prayers.

In Greek, one of the primary words for prayer is "proseuchomai," which means "to come before God and speak." This reminds us that prayer is not just a silent confession of the heart but an intimate conversation with God.

How often do we come before God and speak to Him?

In verse 37 and beyond, we read about a man in the crowd who cried out to Jesus, desperately asking Him to heal his only son. He did not remain hidden in the crowd—he went to where Jesus was, calling out for his beloved child. It was the father’s deep desperation and faith that led to his son’s healing and transformation.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, when we earnestly pray in the places that need transformation, I firmly believe that God will bring change—not only to that place but also to all of us within it. May we be people who go before God and speak to Him, trusting that He will transform both the place and the people there.

Prayer

Gracious and Loving God, We come before You today, just as Jesus did, lifting our hearts in prayer. We thank You for showing us that even the places seen as unclean, unworthy, or broken can be transformed by Your presence. Just as Jesus went up the mountain to pray, help us to seek You in the places in our lives that need change.

Lord, we confess that there are areas in our lives—our homes, our workplaces, our churches—where we long to see Your transforming power. At times, it feels like our prayers go unheard, like nothing is happening. But we trust in Your promise that You hear every cry, every whisper, every longing of our hearts. Strengthen our faith, that we may continue to pray with perseverance, knowing that You are working in ways we cannot yet see.

Like the father who cried out to Jesus for his son, give us the boldness to come before You, to call upon Your name, and to trust that You will bring healing and renewal. Change us, O God, that we may be instruments of Your grace, carrying Your presence into the places that need You most.

Lord, we pray for our families, our communities, and our churches. May they be places where Your light shines, where prayers are lifted, and where lives are transformed by Your love. Let us not grow weary, but rather, help us to pray as Jesus prayed—with faith, with persistence, and with the assurance that You are near.

We surrender all to You, believing that You are the God who transforms, the God who heals, and the God who makes all things new.

In the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, Amen.

© 2025 Pastor Jin Ko. All rights reserved