Luke 5:16-17 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.… What were the special reasons which led our Lord at this time to go away for prayer. I. THE NEED OF INWARD REFRESHMENT OF WHICH HE MUST HAVE BEEN CONSCIOUS. 1. Christ was full of the truest, tenderest sympathy. 2. His sympathy was invariably practical 3. It was intensely personal; general enough to embrace the multitude; particular enough to fix itself on the individual. We can imagine, therefore, how exhausted He must have been. II. THE FEELING OF SADNESS WHICH CAME TO HIM IN VIEW OF THE SPIRITUAL APATHY OF THE MULTITUDES WHO WERE SO EAGERLY SEEKING HIM. If we are deeply concerned for the spiritual welfare of men we shall feel something of the same sadness. III. HIS CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE DANGER TO HIS SPIRITUAL MISSION WHICH WOULD ARISE FROM A PREMATURE POPULARITY. Prayer is the only true preservative against the perils of success. Because of our success we are in danger — 1. Of rushing on too fast. 2. Of becoming self-dependent. 3. Of growing unsympathetic. (B. Wilkinson,F. G. S.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. |
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