Devotional Day #21: Luke 4:42 & 5:16 & Mark 1:35 & 6:30-32

This Devotional message is part of the Clayton Church Value-Based Discipleship series, which was launched on Sunday 23 July 2017. View the series index here.

Passages

Luke 4:42

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them

Luke 5:16

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Mark 1:35

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Mark 6:30-32

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them,

Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.

For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.

Scripture

Collectively, these verses demonstrate that even Jesus spent time on his own to pray and have communion with God the Father.

My Words

Luke 4:42

At the start of the day, Jesus left the disciples to have private time away from all the crowds. He knew that if he did not slip away so early the crowds would come, seeking him out and prevent him from leaving.

Luke 5:16

Jesus would periodically separate himself from everyone else to find his secret place and have one-on-one time with God the Father.

Mark 1:35

At the start of the day, Jesus left the disciples to seek out a place absent and distant from all people so that He could pray and reconnect with God.

Mark 6:30-32

After the Apostles reported back in obediently, Jesus’ next instruction to them was to do like He did in spending some quiet time to rest and recover. Since the crowds were constantly coming and going, the disciples found it difficult to even have time and space for their own needs. So the disciples set sail on the lake to a remote and distance place.

 

What I Discovered

These passages teach on the theme of connection and the way that Jesus and His disciples interacted.

  1. Jesus himself needed time away from all people
  2. Jesus was technically alone since his alone time was really communion with the Father and Holy Spirit persons of the trinity; as part of the trinity He could never be alone.
  3. The disciples were also encouraged to establish boundaries in their ministry so that they can rest and recover.
  4. When Jesus isolated himself, the intention was always to pray, and in doing so, He would have the presence of God with him.
  5. As a result of #2 and #34, when we isolate ourselves, it should be to have private communion with God.

Obedience Step

“I Will”

I will ensure I have down-time away from people, but more importantly, use that time to connect with God for sustenance.

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