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THE MASTER ON PRAYER MOUNTAIN (1)

Date: 
Monday, March 20, 2023
Bible Meditation: 
Mark 6: 45-56

“And when He had sent them away, He departed to the MOUNTAIN to PRAY” – Mark 6:46

The Gospels paint the portrait of the MASTER ON PRAYER MOUNTAIN: “And when He had sent them away, He departed to the MOUNTAIN to PRAY” (Mk.6:46). In addition to Jesus approaching every major event with Prayer, the Gospels describe His regular prayer habits. Jesus had favourite times and locations of prayer, primary among which was to intentionally retreat to the MOUNTAIN to PRAY. Interestingly, Jesus was reported in prayer only three times in Mark’s gospel (Mk.1:35; 6:46; 14:32-39). Each of these instances represent a significant moment in His ministry – of crisis or crucial decision. Each prayer was at night or very early at dawn, and in a lonely place.

ALL NIGHT on MOUNTAINS was one of Jesus’ favourite Prayer Habits. Here, He was reported as “departing to the MOUNTAIN to PRAY” – doing so deep into the night (Mk.6:46). Later that night, as the disciples were struggling to cross the sea, Jesus came to them walking on the water! In Luke 6:12, Jesus spent ALL NIGHT PRAYING on a mountain before choosing His disciples. Matthew 14:23 also refers to praying on a mountain: “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the MOUNTAIN BY HIMSELF TO PRAY.” Nothing mysterious was said about these mountains; but Jesus must have prized praying on mountains to avoid distraction and enjoy solitude.

A unique perspective to what might have driven Jesus to the mountain is seen in John’s account of the same event: “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, he departed again to the MOUNTAIN by Himself alone” (Jh.6:15). In terms of His Prayer burden, this was perhaps the real crisis He was facing that drove him up the Mountain! He needed Grace to remain focused on His calling to express His divine Sonship and fulfil the Mission of Redemption, rather than be distracted to become a freedom fighter against Rome! The miraculously-fed multitude wanted a king who would deliver them from Roman rule. Jesus, however, came to be a Suffering servant-King who would rescue His people from their sin. It was vital for Him to deal with this temptation!

Ironically however, the more significant opposition that Jesus faced on the heels of the feeding of the five thousand was not the multitude, but His own disciples: “Then he went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their HEART WAS HARDENED” (vv.51-52). The disciples didn’t understand about the loaves. They witnessed the miraculous feeding first-hand. They distributed the bread to the people. They ate and were satisfied. They took up twelve baskets full of leftovers. Still, their hearts were hardened – like the Pharisees (Mk.3:5). If the hardness of heart of the Pharisees grieved Jesus, how He must have been grieved by the hardness of heart of His own disciples!

Jesus’ response to His disciples’ hard-heartedness, unbelief, and lack of understanding, was to go up on the mountain to pray! So often, our response to this kind of challenge is to chastise, speak more, or do more. We feel the urge to share more information, present fresh arguments, recommend another resource material, or repeat the important details that we might have missed. Faith does come from hearing God’s Word (Rom.10;17). However, hard hearts are not overcome with words only. Heart-transformation is work that God alone can accomplish, by the power of His Spirit. One of the promises of the New Covenant is a new heart given by God Himself (Eze.11:19).

When we face the challenge of hardened hearts that are walking in sin, unbelief or rejection of truth, the fitting thing to do is, not to chastise or condemn, but to retreat to a quiet place – the Prayer Mountain – and pray to the Lord on their behalf, asking Him to soften their hearts. Jesus must have done this for His disciples. Let’s follow His Steps up the Mountain, far from distraction and focused on the Father.

Adetokunbo O. Ilesanmi (Meditations)

Prayer: 
Lord, teach us to follow YOUR STEPS ON PRAYER MOUNTAIN, far from distraction and focused on the Father, in Jesus’ name.
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