“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23

Dear Reader,

This scripture tells what happened immediately after Jesus miraculously fed the multitudes from five loaves of bread and two fish. Let us think on the day and learn something of the Master.

Five thousand men, plus their wives and children came out into a desert place to hear Christ preach. That could have easily been a crowd over 10,000. It was a large meeting. This was probably not the modern 45 minute sermon. He likely taught the people the bulk of the day. Then, the compassionate Jesus fed the entire crowd from just a little amount of food.

Finally, He sends the multitude away. He even sent away his closest twelve disciples across the lake. Why? He desperately needed to pray.

The Real Work

Look closely at the scriptures. We read that Jesus went out on the water to his disciples in the fourth watch of the night. That is the time period between 3 AM and 6 AM.

Let’s do some logic. If Jesus sent away everyone in the evening, it would have been before dark. There were no cars or streetlights to guide their way home safely. Then immediately, we see that Jesus went up into the mountain. Let’s estimate that this was 7 PM. If He left the mountain and went out on the water sometime during 3 AM and 6 AM, then we can calculate his prayer time.

A logical estimate would be 8 hours. He prayed straight through the night, as He was accustomed to doing occasionally. He prayed. All night.

This was not a simple prayer of gratitude before a meal. This was not a one minute bedtime prayer. This was the soul agonizing, excruciating type of prayer that unlocks the gates of hell. He was laboring in the spiritual warfare asking God to save the souls of men. It was likely for the people from the crowd earlier in the day. He knew that Satan could come and take away the precious seeds that He had just planted in their hearts.

If there is one art to learn in this world, it is the art of prayer. As one previously said, it is a great responsibility to talk to the souls of men about God. It is something entirely different to talk to God about the souls of men.

Dearest reader, you may say your prayers, but do you really pray? Sit and imagine what Christ said in those dark hours on the mountain. Imagine what He felt. Think on his third hour of prayer. What about his seventh hour? Now, can you imagine yourself doing such a thing?

Do not object that it was because He was the Son of God. Read the biographies of John Hyde, David Brainerd, or Edward Payson. Just to name a few. Reader, rise up and serve your generation like Christ in prayer!