Originally posted: 09/14/2019

Jesus was busy. Always. Three years of public ministry must have flown by amidst His full and demanding days. He was busy, but not too busy, to Often Slip Away… and Pray

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray, (5:16).

• But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed, (5:16 NIV).
• But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray, (5:16 ESV).
• Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed, (5:16 HCSB]
• But he would go away to places where he could be alone for prayer, [5:16 GWT).

Consider Him Who Would Often Slip Away… and Pray

• He Would Often Slip Away to withdraw from the crowds and… pray
• He Would Often Slip Away to desolate, deserted places and… pray
• He Would Often Slip Away to be alone and… pray

No matter the circumstances, the urgent demands, He Would Often Slip Away… and Pray.

• Although the crowd pressed around Him, He Would Often Slip Away… and Pray
  • Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, (5:1).
• Although He was preparing His disciples, He Would Often Slip Away… and Pray
  • “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” ¹¹ When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him, (5:10-11).
• Although He was stretching out His hand to heal, He Would Often Slip Away… and Pray
  • And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. (5:13).
    
• Although He was demonstrating His authority to forgive sins, He Would Often Slip Away… and Pray
  • But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.”  ²⁵ Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. (5:24-25).
    
• Although He spent time with those deemed unworthy, He Would Often Slip Away… and Pray
  • And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. ³⁰ The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” (5:29-30).
    

He Would Often Slip Away… and Pray.

• He Prayed for believers.
  • “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours... ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth,” (John 17:9, 17).
• He Prayed for Himself.
  • And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will,” (Matthew 26:39).
• He Prayed for His persecutors.
  • When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. ³⁴ But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing,” (Luke 23:33-34).
• He Prayed, dependent on His Father.
  • Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner,” (John 5:19).
• He Prayed in unhindered fellowship.
  • ^“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵ Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was,” (John 17:4-5).

How do we respond to Him Who Would Often Slip Away… and Pray?

Today He does not need to slip away, for He is ever at the right hand of His Father, praying…for us!

Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us, (Romans 8:34).

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them, (Hebrews 7:25).

We know God is always working to conform us to the image of His Son.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son… (Romans 8:28-29).

Being confident it is His will and knowing He is praying for us, may we so grow to become like Him that we too would often slip away… and pray:

• Pray for believers.
  • With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:18).
• Pray for ourselves.
  • “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” (Matthew 26:41).
• Pray for our persecutors.
  • But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:44).
• Pray, dependent on His Holy Spirit.
  • In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; (Romans 8:26).
• Pray in unhindered fellowship.
  • “if… My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land,” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
  • “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart,” (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

…pray without ceasing; (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Let’s Pray and Grow Together!