The miracles of Jesus are too numerous to mention in a couple of weeks. Suffice it to say, it was a normal part of his pattern. Miracles showed people that he was sent from God. Often times he would use the miracle as evidence of another part about himself and his ministry. Sometimes, he just helped a friend's mother-in-law get better.
That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. (Mark 1:32-34 NIV)
These miraculous powers were certainly well known. Jesus regularly drew large crowds because of them. They weren't shocked by his ability to heal or cast out demons. No, they were counting on it. They followed him wherever he went, at least until they got the healing they needed.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35 NIV)
I love the fact that Jesus was not enamored by the crowds. He didn't get his ego stroked by a good 5,000-man feeding. He didn't try to fill a stadium full of people so those people could hear his voice. No, his priorities were different. Jesus cared first and foremost about doing the will of The Father. He aligned himself with the father in prayer.
It may seem strange to talk about Jesus aligning himself with The Father. After all, he was God wasn't he? It's not all that strange, though, when you look at the rest of his life. Jesus is God, but he limited himself physically to be in one place at a time like us. Jesus is God, but he grew in wisdom and stature like us. Only The Father, Jesus said, knows the day and the hour when Jesus will return. Jesus humbled himself to become like one of us. So, like us, he needed to pray to align himself with The Father. Jesus needed to pray. This helped him show us how to pray.
Prayer is simply conversation with God. We can talk to God about anything we want. He will listen. We can argue, complain, give Him our wish list, praise Him, or bring Him any combination of topics and emotions. They are all prayer.
Not all prayer, though, is equally productive. Moses argued with God at the burning bush. He didn't get his way. Jonah ran from God and found himself in the belly of a fish. Only after humbling himself in prayer did God have the fish spit Jonah out on the shore. All conversation with God is prayer, but prayer should be about aligning ourselves with God. The best prayers are the ones where we truly say, "thy will be done."
Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. (Mark 1:36-39 NIV)
Jesus understood this. He left his quiet time of prayer knowing what The Father wanted him to do that day. The disciples wanted Jesus to return to the crowd. Everyone hadn't been healed yet. They all wanted him to hang out with them. Jesus was well on his way to building the stadium full of fans. Jesus wasn't interested. He only cared about doing the will of The Father. The Father wanted him to travel that day, so he left the crowd. He traveled and did what The Father called him to do.
How about you? Do you regularly go to God in prayer? What do you talk about? What do you ask from Him? What does He ask of you? Do you know? Do you follow?
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