n Mathew 14 John the Baptist is killed by Herod. Then in verse 13 we see Jesus' response to the news. He sought a private and solitary place. I believe that Jesus was grieved. Not only was John a prophet for God he was Jesus cousin. This sad moment leads Jesus to a deserted place and sets the back drop for two great miracles.
In the midst of Jesus' emotion and desire for solitude the crowds find him and he shows them compassion. He heals the sick and then one of the big miracles is set in motion. The feeding of the 5000. The miracle of taking food and multiplying to meet the physical hunger of the people. After he has met their need for food and healing he sends his disciples and the multitudes away.
Then we see Jesus go to seek the solitude he needed and he prayed. All alone he prayed. As public as Jesus ministry was at this time he made time to get alone and pray. Can you imagine what he might have prayed about? I know my prayers might have been something like this.
Father God,
Sometimes I would just like a break. Can you believe these people. I came all the way out here to be alone. To grieve the loss of my flesh and blood and your messenger.
Then they come asking for healing. They couldn't have even brought food to eat. They are so needed. It is all about them. What about me?
Amen
Aren't we glad Jesus isn't like us. Even in the midst of turmoil and the bad of life, even in his flesh, he took the time to love on and care for the people who came to him. I think his alone time with God was a time of refocusing so he could keep his eyes on the Father and his mission. When he is done praying he decides to go for a walk as only the Son of God can. He walks on the sea if that wasn't enough he goes walking on a rough sea with wind and waves.
The waves and wind which the disciples have been fighting against while he was praying, he just walks right on through. The Disciples see him coming and are afraid. Every time I read this story my though is "Come on now disciples he just healed a bunch of people and feed 5000 men". But how many times do I find myself doing the same? Not getting the power of Jesus. Not seeing that even in the situation He is God. Even after he has just shown me great compassion and provision for something else.
He invites Peter out and even when looking Jesus in his face the chaos around "The Rock" distracts him. The veteran seaman looses sight because of the waves. What hope do we have when the Seaman who is one of the big three, the inner circle gets distracted and begins to loose faith? The hope is seen later in the new testament. A great hope that speaks of a faith that grows to a point where even the distractions persecution and even the face of death can no longer sway "The Rock".
Jesus gets on the boat and the seas calm. Then everyone shouts You are truly the son of God. The revelation of God and who he was came through a moment of Sorrow and Jesus' need to seek solitude. In the midst of the crap of life The Son of God was revealed.
When I look over my life I can find a lot of crap. A mountain of bad news and bad times. But when I look carefully and open my heart to what else is there in the midst of the chaos and the negative I see some thing unexpected. I see good news of a God who reveals Himself in the midst of it all. A God who has compassion on me despite my own stupidity and failure. A God who stops and meets my needs.
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