Alone

Matthew 14:12-13,23 NLT

Later, John's disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. [13] As soon as Jesus heard the news, He left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where He was headed and followed on foot from many towns. [23] After sending them home, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. Night fell while He was there alone.

Jesus loved John the Baptist, who was the forerunner preparing the way for Jesus to preach the gospel.

His heart was so torn when He heard the news of John's vicious execution that He wanted to be alone with God the Father.

Only there, in the Presence of His Heavenly Father, could Jesus find the comfort, strength and resolve to carry on His mission.

There are times in our lives that human consolation won't suffice, only the Essence of the Lord touching our very soul will do.

Jesus felt like that. He was faced with the depths of depravity produced by sinful humanity - John's severed head placed on a plate at the whim of a salacious, spitefully offended woman - at the behest of a morally indolent Herod (you can read about it in the beginning of chapter 14)..

Innocent suffering is inexplicable - we've seen that with what happened with the Bibas babies just a few days ago. Their lives squandered savagely by vicious extremists.

How must their father feel? It's strictly personal to him, yet we all are aghast at such things.

We need to take these matters in private face to face with the Lord, otherwise our faith will fail - much like a mobile phone losing its charge!

If Jesus needed to get recharged alone with God, how much more each one of us need this kind of solitary prayer to strengthen and equip us for the "journey".

Inevitably we will face many such tragedies in this fallen world.

What was Jesus' response to the awful news?

Get alone with God and carry on His work of Salvation.

To keep on keeping on is the only acceptable response to evil.

Keep believing in the goodness and greatness of the Lord.

Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! [4] Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the Eternal Rock.