Jesus

Jesus was quite distinct from what people expected. John the Baptist had a programme for his disciples, which included teaching them how to pray and fasting.

Discipleship programmes often set these things into a daily routine. Now, if Jesus was holy, then it was expected that He should teach His disciples the same way.
But He did not. He avoided John the Baptist’s approach to spiritual life. That is not why He came. Eventually His disciples had to ask Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1). He probably did not make a point of “praying with them”. He preferred to be with His Father alone. When they asked, He taught them heart attitudes in prayer and did not give them a method of praying or a programme. He did not give a discipleship programme. He gave His life.

He did not tell them what time to get out of bed. He did not tell them how many minutes each day to pray. He ate and drank at people’s houses. This is not what they expecting. “John was not like this.” We like a programme, a set of laws, so we can fulfil them and be secure that we have done all required. But Jesus came to give new wineskins and relationship from the heart with the Father. If He had given a programme He would have defeated His own witness, which was of Himself.
We talk of prayer in another chapter. The best way to learn to pray after being filled with the Spirit is to pray. It is a personal relationship. Discipleship programmes are law. We are not called to them. We are called to give our life, through new birth and living in Him.