Time with Jesus: Luke 5:12-29 Part 2

A Series on the Life of Christ According to Luke

There is a verse often read past among the miracles of Jesus: Luke 5:16.

“Yet Jesus withdrew himself often to the wilderness and prayed.”

It’s actually translated a lot of different ways based on what version you use but the idea is clear. Jesus takes regular time away during his ministry to be alone in fellowship with God. We could conjecture many reasons for this, but as we will see through the course of his ministry that the brokenness of Creation weighs on Jesus. He is burdened by the pain caused by the Fall. He is the Word that spoke Creation into being as a place where humanity can meet at dwell with God. He walks on earth as God and Man perfectly unified, the truest fulfillment of Creation’s goal but he is not recognized. His ministry is one of healing and forgiveness for those who have rebelled, who have misunderstood their purpose, and who have denied their own humanity.

It is Jesus who must show us what it means to be human while surrounded by the beautiful world he created burning in the ruins of the Fall. How can he handle such pain? He withdraws at times to the presence of God. He communes with the Trinity as we also ought to do when the brokenness of the world is overwhelming. It’s important to remember that wherever the Christian kneels in prayer there is the Kingdom of God. That space where we meet God is a place where the world is made new. When you grow weary—pray. What is the point of belonging to God, seeking his Kingdom, and being in a relationship with him if we don’t pray? What would be the point in being married to Katie if I never spoke to her, if I never enjoyed her company? Walking with Jesus means choosing to be in his presence and includes the mission of taking his presence to the broken world as he did.

Jesus is making all things new through you. Amen.