Matt.14:23 – And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
There are things hidden in plain sight in the scriptures that we often miss in our hurried readings; this passage is one of those. Jesus dispersed the multitudes and sent His disciples to the other side of the sea for one reason, he wanted to be alone with God. He lived with this longing to be with His father, the intensity of that desire was even stronger now as the storm clouds were gathering all around Him. John the Baptist had been killed, the seasons were shifting, was it time to focus on the reason He had come? The cross was becoming unavoidable, Jesus needed to be alone with God. This becomes familiar territory for those involved in ministry. Without these special times with Him it is easy to drift off course. Here is a quote from David Brainerd after spending a long day ministering to the Native Americans.
“And afterwards I was enabled earnestly to invite the children of God to come renewedly, and drink of this fountain of water of life, from whence they have heretofore derived unspeakable satisfaction. It was a very comfortable time to me: There were many tears in the assembly; and I doubt not but that the Spirit of God was there, convincing poor sinners of their need of Christ. In the evening I felt composed and comfortable, though much tired: I had some sweet sense of the excellency and glory of God; and my soul rejoiced that he was “God over all, blessed forever”; but was too much crowded with company and conversation, and longed to be more alone with God. Oh, that I could forever bless God for the mercy of this day, who “answered me in the joy of my heart”.
Ministry is an extension of our relationship with God. Without this all we offer is a facade with no substance. Drinking in His glory, saturating in the Word of God; these things are essential for all of us who are involved in gospel ministry. Jesus needed that prayer time on the mountain after that day of ministry, even though it was cut short He got what He needed. That night would involve a rescue of His disciples in a storm, the next day He would publicly talk about His death. After being alone with God things tend to change.
