HAVING on one or two occasions made use of the phrase, “praying for King Jesus,” I have been somewhat surprised to find that it was not understood, and I have been rather astonished at receiving several notes asking for an explanation of what I supposed to be a matter of common knowledge. It seemed to hearers and readers of my sermons as if the phrase must be a mistake, as if it could not really be a correct thing to do, to pray for the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet one moment’s reflection would have shown them that the expression is scriptural, that you have it here if you have it nowhere else, “prayer also shall be made for him continually.” Our Lord is undoubtedly intended in this passage, for he it is in whom all nations of the earth shall be blessed, and whose name shall continue as long as the sun. It is quite easy to see how we could pray for Christ if he were still on earth. I suppose that when he was a child his parents prayed for him. They needed not to pray some of the prayers which we offer for our offspring, for he was sinless, but I can scarce imagine that a mother’s love could have been restrained from seeking the richest blessings for her heavenly child; and when he grew up, and came among men, and his lovely character began to he known, how could his disciples do otherwise than pray that he might be speeded in his good work  Can we suppose them to have been loyal to the Master if they did not often join their prayer with his that his kingdom might come? Indeed what is the prayer which he has taught us, “Our Father which art in heaven,” but in a certain sense prayer for Jesus? “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven;” it is Christ’s kingdom, and Christ’s will, as well as the will of the Father, and the kingdom of the Father. That great cry which went up in the streets of Jerusalem when Jesus in the days of his flesh rode through them in state was a prayer — “Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Did not the multitude thus implore blessing upon the head of him who came in Jehovah’s name? His disciples might have done well if they had prayed for him and with him in Gethsemane, and it was a part of his griefs to find that they could not watch with him one hour; it was ordained that he should tread the winepress alone. I think we shall all see that the same spirit which made holy women minister to him of their substance, which made the daughters of Salem weep for him as he was led to the crucifixion, must have prompted all his sincere followers to say Amen to this prayer, “Father, glorify thy Son,” and what was this but praying for him?