18. Jesus went off by himself to pray. Luke 6:12
We become closer to people when we spend time with them. So too with God. The undistracted, uninterrupted, quality time we spend with Him increases our understanding and builds our relationship. That communion with God grows the more we draw near to Him.
Jesus sought God in quiet places. The solidarity and solitude allowed him to focus on the word and will of His Father. We can take good counsel from the actions of the Messiah:
(Italics mine)
Mark 1:35 (KJV)
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Mark 6:45-46 (KJV) 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
Luke 5:16 (KJV)
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Luke 6:12 (KJV)
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Jesus modeled effective prayer life. Do it often. Do it away from distraction. Do it alone.
Deuteronomy 4:29-30; 39-40 (KJV)
29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Do as Jesus did because He did these things for you and for me.
19. Jesus calmed the sea storm. Matthew 8:23-27 & Luke 8:24
Matthew 8:24-27 (KJV)
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
A “great tempest arose”. This is correlated in some commentaries as an earthquake in the sea. This was no small thunderstorm. Instead, it was roaring and quaking. It was another of the enemy’s attempts to thwart the will of God. Satan had no power on that shifting salty sea. His misguided winds were rebuked by the one who created all things on earth and in the heavens. Jesus drove the storm back into the depths and along with them any chance that his disciples would come to harm.
In an instant “there was a great calm”. Jesus turns calamity to calm. Where once there was chaos, there is now peace. His words alone drive down winds and steady waves. His presence is enough to save, to heal, to calm, to assure, to lift up, to cover, to unite, to provide, to cleanse, to instruct and to lead.
Let Jesus be the great calm over your raging seas. He is here to do these things…
for you and for me.
When illustrating this “thing” that Jesus did, I kept in mind that my audience is children. It isn’t my intention to place images on a page that will insight fear or linger in the recesses of a young child’s mind. For that reason, I drew the pigs as docile and tranquil.
For the adults reading this blog; however, it should be made quite clear that the men in the Matthew text were demon possessed:
Matthew 8:28-34 (KJV)
28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
This passage brings to light a few interesting observations:
a. The demons knew who Jesus was. They knew his purpose and that there is a set time for their demise.
b. The demons obeyed Jesus’ command. They preferred residing in the swine to meeting the punishment that is to be their fate.
c. The people of this city would have rather kept the demonically possessed men in their company as to losing their precious swine.
d. Some things never change.
Beware, oh children of God. There are still wicked, unruly, and yes, demonic influences lurking in and around the caves and caverns of your life. Do not court them. Do not encourage them. Do not flirt with them.
Stay clear of the occult, clear of witchcraft, clear of magic and the mystical. Just like these demons that required Jesus to drive them out, so too will unnatural influences get hold of innocent lives. Jesus demonstrated the destination of this lifestyle.
He did this thing for you and for me.
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