I have to get away!

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: I have to get away!

I just have to get away from everybody for a little while! I need a few minutes to myself! Have you ever had that thought, or said those words? If you are like most people, you have done both, maybe even several times. When you did have that thought or say those words, did you immediately, or shortly thereafter, feel guilty and maybe a little selfish? Maybe the one(s) you needed to get away from were really in need of your help and companionship, so you felt that guilt was definitely deserved. Let me show you something about the One of Whom this verse speaks: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38) We know that Jesus is the Way we are to follow, the One we are to emulate. Okay, let's follow Jesus through Scripture just a moment.

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side---(then HE left also, a few verses later) And when HE was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes. (Matthew 8:18, 28) You say , "wait just a minute. Surely the One Who made it a point to actually walk all over the country doing good and healing folks, HE would never do such a self-centered thing as saying, "I have to get away!" I believe you would be right, because, No, Jesus would not do something self-centered, but HE would do what was needful and right, and HE did. Don't you think there were people in those great multitudes HE saw approaching who needed healing and deliverance? Of course, there were, yet Jesus told His disciples, "Get up, we've got to get out of here before they reach us!" Lest you think this was an isolated happening, read a few more passages: Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him. (Matthew 13:36) And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (Matthew 14:22-23) Notice there were large numbers of people (multitudes) in these other incidents, so obviously there would have been numbers of needy folks in them as well, and yet, Jesus sent them away, calling for some "private time." Jesus knew that "doing good" can be quite draining. We find an example of this in Mark 5, where we read that a woman with a 12 year long illness (an issue of blood- hemophilia?) touched His clothing, hoping to be healed. When she did, and was instantly healed, Jesus turned and asked who had touched Him, for HE knew "that virtue (power- dunamis, in the Greek) had flowed out of Him." In other words, something in Him had been drawn out. When we draw something out, if we want to be able to draw from the supply again, what do we have to do? The answer is, we have to put some back in the account, lest it be emptied out and unavailable later. Did Jesus have to "replenish? Yes, HE did, for although HE was God incarnate (come in the flesh), HE was also just that, in a body of flesh. That flesh, with its accompanying mind and emotions, like ours, needed rest, time for meditation and prayer, and quiet in order to "recharge its batteries." Jesus knew that and made time to do just that. HE did it so HE would have the necessary spiritual strength (from talking with His Father in prayer), emotional strength from fellowship with His disciples, and physical strength from resting His body. We are not wrong when we begin feeling drained and make time and opportunity to get alone for rest, or feeding in His Word and prayer, or fellowship with others, in order to recharge. Jesus did it and told us about it in His word so we would know the Way to follow. We are made with a body of flesh, with its accompanying mind and emotions, and we must make and take time to get away from what or who is draining our resources in order to replenish the supply, so we will have the power to handle what we need to do.

And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. (Matthew 15:29)

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat (Mark 6:31, also found in Luke 9) Here, the 12 inner circle of disciples had been off on a "mission trip", Jesus had been told of the murder of His cousin, John the baptizer, by Herod, and still, great crowds kept coming, unaware, or, uncaring about the needs of Jesus and His Disciples. It was time to get away and replenish.

And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. (Mark 7:24) Jesus had, in the last few days, gone through several skirmishes with the Pharisees, fed and taught the 5,000 men (+ their families), walked on the water, and healed several people. All this had drained Him. It was time to get away and replenish.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (Luke 22:41) Jesus knew His time had come; HE was about to face more terrible physical and spiritual suffering than all of mankind (read Isaiah 52:14-53:17, and Psalm 22 for the prophetic account of some of what HE went through). It was time to get away and replenish.

I've given you this message, not to encourage a shirking of your duties and rsponsibilities, but, instead to show you it's okay and even needful for you to pay attention to your "power gauge" and take time to get away and replenish before you hit "empty." You can't do anyone any good if you don't have enough "fuel" to reach and help them. Be aware, and take time to get away and replenish. I'm not talking about the normal "vacation", where you spend a few days running around in a strange place, wearing yourself out. No, that is often more draining. Instead, make sure you spend some time actually resting, praying and listening to God, and maybe fellowshipping with people that help you "fill back up." Try not to wait until things have gotten so bad you have to say, "I have to get away!!!" Follow Jesus' example.