June 12, 2018
During Jesus’ life, He undoubtedly felt pressure and stress. Wherever Jesus went, people wanted something from Him – a healing, a teaching, a moment with Him. So, how did He handle it? The very next verse tells us.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Mark 1:35.
Jesus handled that stressful day by doing something specific.
He found a solitary place to pray. In fact, He does this on several occasions throughout the Gospels.
What did that do for Him? I think it did at least 3 things.
• First, I think even though there were still immediate needs, He knew that He needed to rest His very human body, or He would risk total exhaustion, and then He wouldn’t be good for anything.
• Second, I think He knew that His strength comes from His Father, and that spending time with Him was essential to building that strength.
• Third, I think it made Him more confident of His purpose.
• Second, I think He knew that His strength comes from His Father, and that spending time with Him was essential to building that strength.
• Third, I think it made Him more confident of His purpose.
Luke 4: 42-43 tells it this way:
At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. But He said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. But He said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
He needed physical rest, alone time with God and time to refocus on His purpose. And I need to follow His example for these very same reasons. And notice it doesn’t say He felt guilty about ditching the crowd!