He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. Mark 3:13 NABRE
We often read about Jesus heading off to the mountain. These are moments that are solemn to Jesus, usually He goes off on His own and in the associated text we read Jesus is going to pray. We naturally assume that when Jesus goes off by Himself it is to pray, to communicate with His Father. We even have times when Jesus’ example of prayer is to speak directly to His Father. The most notable example is in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night He is arrested. Jesus goes to pray and we read in the text He speaks directly to God as Father, asking for God to hear and hoping that God will free Him from the upcoming task, but ultimately indicating it is always the Father’s will that Jesus wishes most to accomplish. Going off to pray and having the example of how Jesus prays are great moments for disciples, Jesus witnessing how we too should go off alone to pray and to speak to God with few words, always eager to do God’s will, not our own. Jesus in teaching about prayer, says, “… when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Matthew 6:6)
In the quoted verse we read Jesus going up to the mountain and calling along some whom He wants to join Him. This verse leads into Jesus declaring the twelve and giving them their mission. It provides two excellent examples, Jesus invites others to pray with Him and we see before making an important decisions Jesus prays. He would not select His team or do anything important without speaking with God. Jesus’ action is a great example, we should do the same.
Do you invite others to pray? Do you pray before making decisions?
Jesus invites others to pray with Him and we see before making an important decisions Jesus prays. He would not select His team or do anything important without speaking with God. Jesus' action is a great example, we should do the same. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #mountain #invite #Mark #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways