Jesus was a true man. He was tired of his saving efforts and works, and was tempted into haughtiness for his bright results and the strong demonic revelations. He departed from the multitudes, and left his disciples, to be alone with his Father, to whom he prayed, pouring out and emptying his heart before him, and seeking his guidance, wisdom, power, authority, patience, love, and continuous kindness. Jesus prayed in the morning, putting his long day at his Father’s service. He would not do any miracle of himself, but everything he did was in full harmony with his Father: "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does" (John 5:19-20).
Jesus’ prayer had the same thing that he taught us: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." He did not say to us: "God forces you to get the blessing. Go and embrace as much as you wish of treasures. All the doors are opened to you." No! He would not say that, but he awakes in us the effort to pray, the striving to believe, and the patience to supplicate. To him, the straying multitudes, their accumulating troubles, the complexes that chained their souls, and the bondage of their minds to spirits were not subject to philosophized thoughts, or a reason for criticism and contempt; but he loved the poor, and prayed for them. He stood in the midst of the world disasters, and overcame them. Jesus was a faithful prayer. This was the reason for his triumph over all evil authorities, for God continues in him because of his thankfulness and faithful prayer. Without prayer there is no fellowship with the highest. How do you pray? Do you pray continuously for the others, or do you only mention yourself?
The people of Capernaum followed Christ to his place of solitude in the wilderness, and sought him, for they experienced the power of his authority, and wished to secure themselves. The same spirit of the Nazarene appeared once again in the people of Capernaum. As for the Nazarene, Christ could not help them, because of their unbelief. However, in spite of the earthly ambition of the people of Capernaum, Christ revealed to them the motive of his heart, the love of God, for he left heaven and became a man to save the repentant.
The love of the Holy One in him made his preaching a holy necessity and duty. Undoubtedly, God is not compelled, but free. However his essence compels him to carry out his will, for his holiness must condemn the evil. His love prompts him to sacrifice himself as a substitute for them. Christ lived in the commitment of divine necessity, which many people do not understand, because they do not actually know God’s essence in his love and holiness.
Jesus went to many towns, making them partners in the power of God, and bringing to them the gospel of salvation. The healing of the sick was not motto of his ministry, but the strange good tidings about the kingdom of God present among men. His heavenly Father is the All-Possessor, and not Satan, the liar. The Son strived to make people turn to God, so that they might leave willingly the bondage of sin, and become filled with the love of the Highest. The possibilities of the kingdom of the Father were included and hidden in Christ. As the seeds contain their leaves, flowers, and fruits, so the kingdom of grace is today hidden in the believers. God calls all the creatures to submit willingly, for God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Have you become a citizen of the kingdom of God, submitting yourself to its Proprietor?
As the Father sent his Son to spread the kingdom of truth, so the King of Kings calls you so that he may equip you with his power and make you a partner in carrying out his constitution, as he declared in Nazareth (4:18-19). Did you realize and memorize Christ’s program, and are you carrying it out?