Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Devotion based on Mark 6:45,46

Do you suppose Jesus ever had bad days? Our text almost sounds that way. Jesus made his disciples get into a boat. He dismissed the crowd which had gathered around him after the feeding of the 5,000-plus men and women. He leaves the crowd and the disciples and goes alone to a mountain to pray. Maybe it was just a bad day for Jesus.

John’s gospel gives us some added insight into this text. It says that after the people saw and experienced the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, “They intended to come and make him king by force” (John 6:15).

The people were not there to ask Jesus to teach them deeper truths of the Word of God. They were not there to learn about the forgiveness and peace he would bring. They took the gift that was Jesus and turned it into a selfish desire. “Fill our bellies, Jesus!” was what they cared about.

And so Jesus sends his disciples out across the lake, and he goes himself up a mountain to pray. He separates himself from a devilish proposition—to gather early popularity and show earthly power. No, it was not a bad day. Instead, it was another day for him to focus on saving souls and to draw strength from his heavenly Father.

How is your day today? Are you already dreading what this day has in store for you? Are you struggling with tensions in relationships? Are you stressed out at work? The car won’t start? The kids aren’t behaving? Some days feel better than others.

Remember what Jesus offers. The one who would not be led astray by worldly selfish ambition came unselfishly to win forgiveness for this day and all our days. And he reminds us of the privilege we have to go to our God in prayer. That means this day is looking better all the time.

Prayer: