"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray." -Luke 5:16
This line was a noteworthy read for me in Luke 5 because it reminded me of why it was essential for Jesus to be lonely in his quiet time. It also lead me to wonder what exactly Jesus was praying about, as well as to ask the question: What happens in lonely places?
Refocusing, Timing, Mission, Human Qualities, and Praying in the Garden: It is important to be aware of the verse before Jesus' retreat: "Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses." Jesus had just healed a leperous man and specifically told the man not to tell anyone what He had done, yet the word spread anyway. On the first read, it may seem strange that Jesus didn't want as many people as possible to know of His whereabouts so that they could be healed by His very own hands. However, it was necessary that He kept the right focus on His mission; what He was sent on earth to do. His job wasn't merely to heal people but to spread the message for the salvation of their souls. He wasn't as concerned with their temporal bodies as He was with their eternal selves.
Jesus also had a limited time to fulfill the scripture of his death and resurrection that God had prearranged for Him. He had to get where He was going, so He couldn't stay where He had been. He knew that with crowds of people would come a delay in His purpose. Perhaps this retreating was a means of refocusing for Jesus, reminding Himself of what He was on this earth for, and getting to a place where He could be alone with God and not distracted by the voices of others. Perhaps He wanted to hear what God had to say about the situation, how the Lord wanted to guide Him, and what His next step would be. Jesus didn't come to heal the whole world, but to save the whole world.
Jesus teaches us that the lonely places are the avenues to our Heavenly Father, and that they supply us with a kind of intimacy and listening ear that crowds do not allow for. We should not be afraid of the lonely places, moments of isolation, and time spent one-on-one with our Creator. I believe that it is essential for us to make the time to separate ourselves from society in order to just be with the Lord. If Jesus, of all people, sets this example, then there must be something very significant behind it.
I think it is also important to note the popularity that Jesus obtained amongst the towns, both negative and positive (His recognition for being a healer, claims of Him being the savior, and some people's accusal of Him being a blasphemer). He was continuously being crowded by the lovers, the haters, and the curious. I think that it is quite possible that He found Himself overwhelmed in his human body over the course of His earthly life. His prayer in the garden before his crucifixion demonstrates this well:
"He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." -Luke 22:41-44
Jesus presents an example to us of pleading with the Lord, but nevertheless submitting to God's final will even amidst His agony. His story shows us that when we are considered lonely in the world, we can be alone with God. When we are weak and seeking the Lord, God meets us right where we are and gives us strength ("An angel of heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.") As scripture says: "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." -Psalm 34:18 Jesus shows us that it is essential for us to stay in prayer and intimacy with the Father, and have frequent "retreats" with the One Who loves us most and knows what's best for us. Jesus also represents a mission-vision: He did good at every opportunity that presented itself, but He also knew what He was on this Earth for and didn't want anything or anyone to get in the way of that. He kept His focus heavenward.
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