“[Herod] sent and had John beheaded in the prison … Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. ” (Mt 14:10,13)
If Herod dared to kill John the Baptist despite John’s popularity, Yeshua’s life was in danger as well. On top of that the Master knew that the responsibility was now completely on His shoulders. John’s time to prepare the way for Him had come to an end. If He grieved when Lazarus died, John’s death must have affected Him even more.
Yeshua’s response to all of this was to withdraw from the crowds in order to pray. He needed to be with the Father.
But it was not so easy. The people found out about His plans and followed Him to where He was going. His heart went out to them. “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (v. 14) Then He fed them physically by multiplying five loaves and two fishes so that all were fed. “And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” (v. 20-21) What love and what compassion the Master had! Truly He could say: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (Jn 10:11)
But when He had ministered to the needs of the people, it says: “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.” (v. 22-23)
If our Master needed to withdraw in order to pray when His life was in danger and He had to deal with new challenges, how much more do we need to do so! Yesterday we read from Ps 17 how David prayed:
“I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.” (Ps 17:6-9)
This is how we also must learn to pray in these wicked and violent times.
What power was released when our Master prayed! The wind was against the disciples out on the sea, but this was no problem for Him.
“And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’” (v. 25-27)
When Peter walked on the water he began to look at the waves and started to sink because he got afraid. “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (v. 31-33)
Prayer will release God’s power and drive out fear. John wrote: “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 Jn 2:6)
The Let’s learn to pray as He prayed.
