Mark 6: 45-46 (NLT)
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
While this appears to be a verse of little importance, filler between two miracles of Jesus, there is a wealth of wisdom and insight. Let’s consider this verse one word at a time.
First, we have “Jesus.” Jesus - Son of God, God-wrapped-in-flesh, the sacrificial lamb sent for reconciliation with fallen humanity, full of love and forgiveness, our ultimate example.
Secondly, “climbed / went up." Unlike hiking, climbing involves hard, arduous, often excruciating work. One must not only negotiate the mountain itself but falling rocks, loose footing, sharp corners, fluctuating weather conditions, and mental fatigue.
Third, the “ the mountainside / the hills.” I’ve described some of the toil already, but the mountain itself represents an insurmountable human hurdle. It’s a symbol of human weakness, a daunting display to remind us how small we truly are. Those attempting it must be brave (or silly in some cases) and willing to lose life and limb to scale it.
Lastly, “to pray.” Prayer is simply communicating with God. Speaking and listening. Bonding. One-on-one relationship.
Putting all the pieces together, the beauty of this word puzzle enlightens further. Our faith mirrors this verse in many ways. We walk toward a “mountain” of impossibility, of life. And in our desire “to pray” and seek God, we must undergo the rigors of “climbing.”
But like Jesus here, to do so is the adventure not only of a lifetime… But of eternity!
