Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for Him, and when they finally found Him, they begged Him not to leave them. But He replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.”
So He continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea.
Luke 4:42-44
A question before we start the essence of this passage, or at least what I feel to draw your attention to. Was Jesus ministry finished at this point? Did he come to a lull in the numbers of people who wanting to see him and receive ministry? The simple answer is “No”. He was inundated with people all the time. There was far more need than there was time. Before we come to this pericope we saw what happened after Simon’s mother-in-law was healed. Everyone who had or knew of anyone else who was sick brought them to Jesus to be healed. Luke takes great care to tell us that no matter the problem Jesus healed every one of them. Then we are told that not only did it involve all the sick but all the demon possessed as well. It was never ending. Now Luke tells us early the next morning the crowds returned. They searched everywhere for Him. The ministry was starting again. Open for business when the sun came up. When they found Him again they begged Him not to leave – AND THIS IS JUST ONE VILLAGE. Jesus said, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns as well.” When Jesus preached the Good news, it involved more than just preaching and being whisked back to the hotel in a limo to rest until the next crusade. For Jesus it was a 24/7 commitment. It was never ending.
BUT EARLY IN THE MORNING JESUS WENT TO AN ISOLATED PLACE where the crowds couldn’t find Him. “Early in the morning” means so early it was still dark. Just before dawn. Now that is early. Jesus slips out under the cover of darkness. This seems to be His habit. He doesn’t give Himself to the crowds 24/7 after all. He takes time out for Himself. Ah, but to do what? Play internet games on His iPad? Take care of His emails? Give Himself to wider ministry through the Internet. No of course not. It is very clear what Jesus did when he went to be alone and it is clear that He took frequent time to be alone. Yes many times very early in the morning but other times it was in the midst of ministry. Take a look at some of these verses. The pattern is all through the New Testament.
Matthew 5:1, 8:18, 13:1-2, 14:13, 14:22-23, 15:29, 17:1. Mark 1:35-36, 3:7, 6:30-32, 6:45-47, 7:24, 9:2. Luke 4:16, 6:12-13, 21:37. 22:41. John 4:8, 6:15 and many more.
I have not found all the verses for you. That’s something you can do for yourself. Sometimes when Jesus sees the crowd He has compassion and ministers to them. Other times when He sees the crowds he departs for a quiet place. Learn to know what you have to do and when you have to do it. You don’t have to minister to all of the need. Take time out. Many times Jesus takes time out to be alone with His Father in heaven, praying and seeking His will. Other times he takes time out with a select few. I smile when I see Jesus spent a lot of time in boats. It was not that He was a boatie in the true sense of the word but He didn’t only just use boats to get somewhere. I think He also used boats to get away where people couldn’t follow Him. Think about it.
Let’s meet at my house Sunday before the game.
God
Prayer isn’t a “spare wheel” that you pull out when in trouble; it’s a “steering wheel” that directs the right path throughout!
Kong Hee
You’ll never come second by putting God first!
Brian Houston
You may want to get two scoops of church this week!
Judah Smith
Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.
Corrie Ten Boom
Let the first act on waking be to place yourself, your heart, mind, faculties, your whole being, in God’s hands.
Sidney Lear
“Lord I thank you . . .
that I haven’t got angry with anyone today
that I haven’t lost my temper
that I haven’t lied
that I haven’t thought bad thoughts about anyone
that I haven’t wronged anyone in any way.
Lord I am about to get up now and I am really going to need your help!”
Anon