Prayer

1

Matthew 14:23

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

²³ Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there.

Thousands of people had the personal commitment to follow Jesus way out into the mountains at considerable discomfort to themselves. They hadn’t planned to stay very long, so most of them had not brought even a small lunch. They thrilled to Jesus’ love and oration and witnessed miraculous healings. Finally their human weakness overcame them: they were tired and hungry. Once they started talking about it, their hunger dominated every thought and feeling. Here were 5,000 men who were extremely hungry. Very likely there were at least 5,000 women present, too.

Several times when we worked in Africa, we stopped way out in the bush and broke out a picnic lunch in what appeared to be a totally deserted spot. Within a very few minutes we would have 20 or 30 children appear, as if spontaneously generated, and stand around watching us eat. After a little more time a few adults would appear and silently observe. If things were like that in Jesus’ day, (and I have no doubt but what they were), there must have been well over 20,000 kids in the crowd, curiosity written in every face, eagerly commenting to their friends about what they were seeing or hearing.

Jesus had everyone sit down in groups of fifty to a hundred. He took five buns and two fish, blessed them, started breaking them, and passed them to his disciples. They in turn probably walked to one of the people in each group of fifty, broke the bread and fish, and gave them to that one person. He or she had then repeated Jesus’ actions and personally experienced the same miracle of multiplying the food. Every single person eventually participated in this astounding miracle, each sharing with the next.

A ground swell of enthusiasm and support erupted in their dinner conversations. People cheered in support of this mighty miracle worker who had not only fed them but also made them miracle workers. It was obvious that Jesus must be made their leader, their commander, their king. Jesus disciples could not but have shared the common determination to elevate him to king.

Satan must have presented to Jesus how he could use this mighty miracle to not only become their king but also accomplish his self assigned mission of saving the human race. Jesus could rally an unbeatable army, capture Rome, and then the entire world. His human heart must have glowed with deep satisfaction that he had had such marvelous success in helping so many people. Surely this must be the way to finish his work and achieve his ultimate goal.

But there were red flags going off in his mind. They signaled, perhaps weakly but persistently, that this would not accomplish his genuine goal. Using his irresistible divine power that had so excited the people, Jesus now ordered them to leave. With extreme reluctance they all finally left. He stood alone.

His humanity was exhausted by the effort and cried for rest. Resolutely Jesus turned and went deeper into the mountains. Mustering his failing energies, he prayed to God. He sought wisdom and power to pursue his mission to save mankind by the only absolutely effective way—to die for them. This urgent prayer and communion took all evening and well into the night. Eventually, under divinely renewed power, Jesus strode forth, even across the storm enraged lake, to his destiny.  

Almighty, loving God, help me to so commune with You.

[1] https://thebarkingfox.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/bfb140303-feeding-the-five-thousand.jpg