And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.
Mt 14:23
Why are so many drawn to the mountains?
I have to confess that towering highlands of forest and rivers and endless vistas beckon my spirit, “Come see. Climb higher. Partake.” Since early childhood, nearly every summer of my life has included a trip to the wilderness paradise of the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado or New Mexico. I have countless memories of these simple times with my family, exploring and enjoying this amazing display of God’s creative art.
So, it makes sense that I am drawn to these mountain highlands as sure as a June bug to a porch light on a warm spring night in Central Texas.
But I’m not alone in this. As we make the long, long drive through the plains of West Texas and the Panhandle I find few, if any, resort towns full of campers, hikers and fishermen. Nor do I find collections of cute cabins scattered about the flat countryside or fancy resorts centered around rustic log lodges. I do, however, see many campers and trailers making their way through that far northwest corner of the Panhandle across vast grasslands dotted with buttes and extinct volcanoes. At stops along the way, I can almost feel their anticipation as they journey through this flatland. Glimpses of down sleeping bags, ice chests, fishing poles and jackets thrown across backseats hint of their final destinations – the high mountain country of New Mexico or Colorado.
I wonder if among these other travelers there is a stirring of excitement and anticipation as they pass through Capulin toward Raton? Are they, like all of us in our car, watching expectantly as they pass the huge TO ranch? And does their car fill with excited oohs and ahs when they get their first glimpse of snow-capped peaks in the distance?
Mountains are alluring to many with their majestic ruggedness, quiet forests and stunning “as far as the eye can see” vistas. Whether it’s the Sierra Nevada, the Rockies or the Appalachian mountains, people in the beautiful United States flock to them for hiking, camping, rafting, fishing, hunting or just relaxing.
Mountain areas are certainly popular for recreational purposes, and, for those of us in Texas, they provide blessed relief from the cauldron of summer heat that simmers at 100+ degrees from May through September. But have you ever noticed the prominent role mountains play in the Bible? Jerusalem itself was a high area surrounded by seven summits, the most notable being Mount Moriah and Mount Zion. With the temple being the central location of Jewish worship, it is no wonder that the topography of this area was very meaningful and familiar to them. It is often used in Scripture by men led by the Holy Spirit to describe spiritual concepts. (Psalm 125:1-2) And even God’s spiritual dwelling place is referred to as Zion, “My holy mountain.” (Joel 3:17)
While there are many lessons and analogies we could learn from the Biblical writings and allusions to mountains, Jesus Himself reminds us that it is not a mountain, or certain place that matters when we worship Him. He tells the Samaritan woman at the well, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father… But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth…” John 4:21-23. Even so, mountains were often mentioned as a place of peace and solitude, a way to “get away from it all,” so to speak. Jesus seemed to think so.
I love to think of Him going off by himself to climb a mountain and take some time off. I wonder if He, like me, longed for those times in the mountains when He could climb to the top and enjoy those drop-dead views of lakes and valleys and admire an eagle in flight or a deer bounding away in the trees. Was He filled with joy at the sight of all of that beauty?
Hmm. Well, we must remember that it was He who created all of that beauty! It was by His own hand that the lake snuggled up to the base of the mountain and sparkled in the sunlight, and the eagle soared above the cliffs with keen eyes looking for small prey below, and the deer leapt with effortless grace over the rocks and into the trees. While these sights bring to my mind my amazing God and His power and glory, Jesus must have looked on these things with the satisfaction of the creator Himself who smiles and says, “It is good!”
During His public ministry, Jesus aroused a great interest among the people with His message of hope and comfort and the Kingdom to come. People were drawn by His confident and authoritative way of speaking. Add to this the extraordinary miracles He performed – healing the sick, casting out demons, and even raising the dead. Imagine the crowds that would follow Him wherever He went, clamoring to get close to Him, hoping for a miracle in their own life or just curious as to whether this was indeed the long awaited Messiah. It is no wonder that Jesus would seek to find some solitude in order to pray and meditate.
“And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.” Mt. 14:23.
As Matthew relates in this passage, Jesus had just fed a multitude of 5,000 with only five loaves and two fish. They had followed him earlier when He had sought some time to Himself after hearing of the death of John the Baptist. But the multitude persistently followed Him and thus found themselves in a wilderness area without anything to eat. The scripture says, “He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” Even in His grief, He couldn’t just walk away from the people He loved. He healed them and fed them.
We may feel our lives are filled with stress and pressure, but imagine the pressure on Jesus as He looked upon the people He loved with needs that only He could fill. And so it was that He would often retreat to a mountain or sea or wilderness area. But it wasn’t the beauty of the natural world that drew Him. He sought time alone in prayer with His Father in Heaven. Even our Savior needed a break from His work and daily routine to reflect on His purpose and His oneness with the Father as He struggled with the demands of this physical life.
We get a glimpse of what some of these prayers might have looked like when we consider the prayer He spoke with His apostles in John 17.
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” John 17:1-5.
He calls to mind His purpose. He sees the end is near when He will complete His task. He reflects on His relationship with His Father – in His case, His oneness. And Jesus prays for His apostles and disciples as they also walk the sometimes painful path of this world:
I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are…But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves…They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (From John 17:11-16)
The Lord’s tender love and care for His followers is expressed in this prayer in a way that only the Good Shepherd of our souls could convey. John 17 is a snapshot into the heart of Jesus that is certainly worthy of our time and meditation. Read it in the view of His nail-scarred hands and let His words fill you with His love and joy.
I do love the mountains for all the reasons I have expressed, but what I learn from the Lord is that I have a need that is far greater than looking upon His beautiful creation. We walk through many dark valleys in this life, and traverse rocky terrain that makes it easy for us to lose our way. Our lives are busy with activity and events and people that can sometimes prevent us from seriously contemplating what we are actually doing here. It is essential that we seek quiet solitude, prayer and meditation. When we take the time to get away from the crowd and spend time on the mountain top of prayer, we get a marvelous view that shows us:
• Where we’ve been and where we are going
• The correct path that leads us to eternity with God
• Our purpose on earth
• God’s eternal glory and help as we navigate the dark valleys of life
This world, this life, can overwhelm us with the stress of surviving day to day living, the pain of physical afflictions, the suffering inflicted on us by others and the searing heartbreak of grief. It is vital to our faith that we follow the Lord’s example and seek God in solitude, whether from the mountaintop or the seashore or our own back porch, and fill our hearts with the hope and comfort of His promises.
“… that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves…”