When most of us wake up too early we attribute it to indigestion, too much “on our minds” or old age – then we want a simple solution like a pill. This morning when I awoke – too early by my judgment – God’s Spirit reminded me of a verse I memorized a long time ago: And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there. (Mark 1:35) In Jesus’ case, there certainly would have been much on His mind – but I don’t imagine it was a matter of not being able to sleep! More likely it was very simply the great priority of time with the Father – that time easily pushed back the human need to sleep. And since the crowds seemed to find Him everywhere, since every single voice seemed to want to push Him in one direction or the other -- He got time with His Father in the darkness, when the lamps were out and very few came knocking (except the occasional Nicodemus!). It wasn’t a lonely place because He was lonely – but because He was alone with His Father, in a quiet place where He could freely speak and listen. He said repeatedly: “I came to do the will of the Father Who sent Me…” So, again and again He went away -- when it was decision time or when it was a time of being hyper-busy…when He just needed time with One instead of time with so many. And He also went when it was time to die, at every major time, you’d have watched Him slip intentionally, purposefully away to a place to pray.
And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to
