Jesus’ popularity was growing quickly. Everywhere He went, people gathered around Him. They came to hear Him teach, to watch Him perform miracles, and to seek healing for their broken lives. After Jesus cleansed a man with leprosy, He instructed him, “Tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest” (Luke 5:14). Yet the man could not keep silent. The news spread rapidly, and even larger crowds began searching for Jesus.
Luke writes, “But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (Luke 5:15–16).
Notice what Jesus did. He did not allow popularity to control Him. He did not let the demands of people dictate every moment of His day. As the crowds increased, so did His commitment to spend time alone with the Father. The greater the demands became, the more intentional He was about prayer.
Throughout Luke’s Gospel, prayer is woven into the life of Jesus. Before choosing the twelve apostles, He spent the night in prayer (Luke 6:12–13). Before asking His disciples who they believed Him to be, He prayed (Luke 9:18). During the transfiguration, while He prayed, His appearance was transformed and Moses and Elijah appeared with Him (Luke 9:28–31). Before teaching His disciples how to pray, He Himself was praying (Luke 11:1). In Gethsemane, before His arrest, He prayed (Luke 22:41–44). While hanging on the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). Even His final words were directed to the Father: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
Prayer was not an occasional activity in Jesus’ life. It was the atmosphere in which He lived. Every major moment was surrounded by communion with His Father.
This is remarkable when we remember who Jesus is. He is the Son of God. He is fully God and fully man. Yet during His earthly ministry, He willingly humbled Himself and walked in complete dependence on the Father. Philippians 2:8 says, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
If Jesus needed regular times of prayer, how much more do we?
Many believers try to serve God while neglecting their private relationship with Him. We become busy with ministry, responsibilities, family needs, and endless demands. We rush from one task to another and wonder why we feel spiritually drained. The answer is often simple: we are trying to give out what we have not first received from God.
Jesus never allowed ministry to replace fellowship with the Father. His public ministry flowed from His private devotion. The crowds saw His miracles, but they did not always see the lonely places where He prayed. They witnessed His power, but that power flowed from continual communion with His Father.
At the same time, Jesus never used prayer as an excuse to avoid people. When the crowds came, He responded with compassion. Mark tells us that despite the growing demands, people continued seeking Him everywhere (Mark 1:45). Later, when Jesus tried to withdraw with His disciples after the death of John the Baptist, the crowds followed Him. Instead of turning them away, “he was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14).
Jesus models both dependence and compassion. He withdrew to pray, but He also welcomed those who needed Him. He spent time alone with the Father, then returned ready to serve others.
There is a lesson here for every believer. The needs around us will never disappear. There will always be another problem to solve, another responsibility to carry, another person needing help. If we allow those demands to consume us, we will eventually run dry.
Before facing the crowds, Jesus sought the Father. Before making important decisions, He prayed. Before enduring suffering, He prayed. Before serving others, He spent time with God.
We should do the same.
The strength to serve does not come from determination alone. Wisdom does not come from experience alone. Endurance does not come from willpower alone. They come from God. Time spent in His presence is not time taken away from ministry; it is preparation for ministry.
When interruptions come, respond with grace. When people need help, show compassion. But never forget where your strength comes from. The busier life becomes, the greater the need to step away and seek God.
Like Jesus, we must learn to withdraw before we go forward. The work of God is best done by those who first spend time with God.
By: Eliza Hollis