Mat 14:12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. 13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
Jesus had just endured what could have been the most heart-rending, gut-wrenching
moment of His entire life. Not only his first cousin, but a top-notch servant of God and the greatest of all humans, John, was imprisoned and beheaded for preaching Jesus.
To make matters even worse, it was at a drunken party where that wicked, sorry,
adulterous Herod was so consumed with passion and lust for his mistress's daughter
after she had danced for him, that he acquiesced to Herodias' and daughter's plea to
bring them the head of John the Baptist on a serving tray. Insidiously sinister!
Perhaps you have had a bad day. But imagine getting this news, taking a little retreat to get away into the desert to just be alone with the guys and with God and several thousand people follow you. They were "in His face" everywhere He turned. Add to that the fact that not a one of them packed a lunch, so you-know-Who had to minister again when He really needed to be ministered to.
But His compassion failed not! He fed the multitudes with a little local boy's few fish and biscuits.
Now, perhaps Jesus could get some alone time with the Father? He sent the boys across the sea so He could pray alone up on the mountain. But about 3 in the morning He looks out over Galilee where the waves start getting very choppy. So He has to walk to them on the water and calm the waves and the hearts of the disciples.
That, my friend, is a busy, stress filled day! Did you notice though? It was about others, not about Himself. And listen to what He says to the guys, "Be of good cheer; It is I; be not afraid."
No comments:
Post a Comment