Mark 6:45-46 - The Prayer Life of Jesus

Mark 6:45-46
⁴⁵ Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. ⁴⁶ After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

Message: The Prayer Life of Jesus

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is in Nazareth, his hometown, but he doesn't get the reception that we would think. Instead of welcoming him, people question him. But he continues with his message of repent and believe. Jesus is becoming more and more well known and his message is reaching further and further. With that sometimes comes misunderstanding. Herod Antipas, one of 4 rulers of Rome now, wonders if Jesus is a resurrected John. Mark then explains how John was killed, mainly because Herodias was confronted with her sin and was upset at John. Now, the apostles arrive back after Jesus had sent them out. Jesus has them go off to a secluded place to get rest, but mobs of people swarm them and Jesus realizes these people need to be taught, so he does that, teaches them. Then the disciple see that they need to eat and send them away, but Jesus reminds the disciples that they can feed these people. Jesus shows them how with God it is possible.

Again, it seems that Jesus is more focused right now on his disciples and teaching them. It makes sense. He has sent them out, to spread the gospel, to share the message of repentance and believe, and teach people. He has given them the authority to cast out demons. He has told them they can trust people to provide for them wherever they go. Perhaps they are still learning what this means. The feeding of over 5,000 was one way to teach them that wherever they go they can depend on God to provide not only their need but people's needs as well.

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida. It is not immediately clear to me why he ushered them away and then He Himself was sending the crowd away other than the fact that He imply needed to leave for the mountain to pray. Perhaps he simply needed to get away and be alone. It makes sense. Jesus, especially, who was the center of all the attention right now, knew that time to be alone, to pray, was always important.

In some ways it is difficult to understand why it was important for Jesus to pray, based upon my understanding of Jesus and his eternal communion with the Father, but I suppose we are similar, to a degree, as the Holy Spirit has been given to us, to live inside, and yet we need that time in prayer as well. We need it daily. Jesus took time to get away, to be alone. If he need it, I must need it as well. But, Jesus is fully God and fully man. Thus, as a man, prayer is a part of his life on earth.

Jesus does send the disciples away, to be alone, but to be alone together, on a ship. He does desire them to be together, to go at life together. Jesus is teaching them something. He is teaching them dependence on Him.

Summary - Jesus asks the disciples to get in a boat, to be together, to perhaps have this time to once again think about their dependence on Him. He is preparing them for something to come, perhaps another test. Meanwhile, he needs time to himself as well. He sends the people away and then goes to the mountain to pray. He is fully man and he needs to pray.

Promise: When we are faced with temptation and need sustenance in life and ministry, we need to turn to God in prayer. God will sustain us.

Prayer: O Lord God, prayer, quiet prayer and solitude with you has always been a struggle for me. There are men and women of God that I have seen throughout time, EM Bounds, AW Tozer, Willa McCurdy, my mom -- these are all people that I have wanted to be like, but I struggle with the daily habit of taking alone time to speak to you. Lord, I know you are with me and you do not grade me, and perhaps I am tougher on myself than I need to be, but I do desire to walk with You and take things before you. Thank you for using the prayers I offer through the Jesus Calling posts to encourage others. It amazes me that those simple prayers can touch people, but that is you at work in me and I give you all the glory. I am just blessed to be a part of that. Lord, I walk with you, on this journey of life, and continue to help me learn from You and trust you.