Jump Start # 1712

Luke 5:16 “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.”

Our verse today is one of those hidden gems in the Gospels that pulls the curtain back and allows us to see more into the life of Jesus. It is just a simple statement. Luke writes this as if this was no big deal, but it is. It tells us so much about Jesus.

First, Luke reveals that Jesus slipped away to pray OFTEN. This wasn’t a rare occasion. This was Jesus. Often. Many times. This formed and shaped the spiritual habits of Jesus. When we think about habits, we often think about the negative habits. A person that interrupts; a guy that cracks his knuckles; even, someone who always falls asleep during worship services. Not all habits are negative. Some are good. We need some “often” in our lives. Often at worship. That would be good. Often praying, like Jesus. Often with the Bible opened.

Second, Luke shows us that Jesus often SLIPPED away. His prayers were in quiet places. He went to the wilderness. This became His “closet,” to pray in. The wilderness provided an uninterrupted focus for His prayers. Interruptions, distractions and a wandering mind is the death to our prayers. It’s hard to pray both long and deep, when the cell phone is ringing. You can’t do it well during TV commercials. It’s hard to do it with your little children needing you. For Jesus, the interruptions were the multitudes. They needed Him. Another sick person to heal. Another question to answer. Another challenge. Another need. Jesus slipped away to the wilderness. Do you have a wilderness to slip away to? Maybe it’s no farther than your easy chair. But with the TV off, cell phone somewhere else, a few moments alone can allow you to really pray. It could even be your bed before you get up. It could be in your car as you drive (I don’t recommend you closing your eyes on that one). The wilderness represents quiet time. Jesus, in the sermon on the mount, used the illustration of a closet.

Third, Luke tells us that Jesus PRAYED. That He did. He did that often. There are many, many prayers of Jesus in the Gospels. At first this seems a bit odd to us. Since Jesus is God, why did He have to pray to His Father? Because they were in unity. Because He was also man in the flesh. Because He sought the help from Heaven.

We can have a little check list that we run through that becomes our prayer. Sometimes I wonder if our prayers are nothing more than bullet points that we state rather than really praying about things. What Jesus taught in Matthew 6 about prayer reminds us that prayer doesn’t have to be long to be good. Prayer doesn’t have to use big words to catch the attention of God. Prayer can be simple statements, but they ought to be believed and heart felt.

I find among Christians two common complaints about prayer. The complaints lie with us. There is nothing wrong with prayer, it’s the way we are praying. I hear: “I don’t pray enough.” Most feel that way. I’ve not met the person who went to the other extreme. I haven’t heard someone say, “I think I’m praying too much.” Our schedules and fast paced lifestyles cut into prayer time. The other thing I hear often is: “I tend to pray about the same things over and over.” That could be because those “same things” are important to us, such as our family, our wellbeing, our church. Or, it could be that we haven’t expanded our vision to see other things to pray about. Maybe we could pray about others more than ourselves. Maybe we need to pray some “national” prayers, like we read about in the Old Testament. There is a big election in less than two weeks. That’s something to pray about. That will affect us for years to come. There is an influx of hatred and intolerance to God’s way. That’s something to pray about. There is the spread of the Gospel. That’s something to pray about. There are people in your world that you know who are not Christians. Have you lifted their names up to God in prayer? If it would help, make a list of people and things you need to pray about. If you have kids, there’s something to pray about. If they are driving, there is even more to pray about. If they are in high school or college, that’s even more to pray about. The layers and lists begin to grow when you put some thought into it. And that may be just the problem. Could it be we don’t put much thought into it. Jesus slipped away to the wilderness on purpose to pray. I just wonder, as He was walking out to the wilderness, if He was thinking about all the things He wanted to pray. Sometimes we may pray without putting some thought into it.

Fourth, without actually saying it, Luke’s revelation of the praying Jesus who often slipped away helps us to see why the Lord stayed focus. He never got sidetracked. He never forgot who He was nor what He was supposed to do. NEVER. Did those prayers help? They would help us. They would be a reminder of our spiritual side. They would remind us of what really matters. They would help us stay focused. They would ward off temptation. They would be one link in our spiritual protection.

“Did you pray about that?” That’s a common statement of my wife. She says it all the time. She uses that on the kids. They’ll call with some crisis in their lives and immediately she’ll suggest, “Have you prayed about that?” Job problems. “Have you prayed about that?” It’s such a wonderful reminder. Take it to the Lord in prayer. We all need to do that.

Slipping away often to the wilderness…not to catch a nap, not to do some fishing, but to pray. That amazing Jesus. He is always, always, doing what is right. He is always, always, doing what we ought to be doing.

Maybe it would be good to turn off the car radio on the way home from work and just pray. Maybe it would be good to get down to the church house a bit early and sit in the parking lot, or even in a pew and just pray. Does your congregation need more leaders? Have you prayed about that? Are you looking for another preacher? Have you prayed about that? How are the teens in your congregation? Have you prayed about them? Had a recent death in the congregation? Have you prayed for the family? Take out your church directory, and just look at the names. Have you prayed for these people? Do you have problems with some? Don’t like some? Have you prayed about that?

Slipping away to the wilderness to pray. Thanks Luke, for sharing that with us. Thanks Jesus, for showing us.

Roger