Tues., 1/14/20 Devotion (Matt. 14:13a)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 14:13a, where we read these words:

"When Jesus heard it [that John the Baptist had been killed], He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself."

This is the only place in the Gospels that I am aware of, where our Lord Jesus navigated a boat by Himself. But the reason Jesus desired to get away from everyone, and all the hubbub, is our focus today. The Savior had just heard of the ignominious death of His own relative (through Mary), and of His forerunner, John the Baptist.

It seems to me that our Lord Jesus was saddened by this news; and it may well have caused Him to reflect on the fact that He (Christ) Himself would soon die on the cross, giving His life for the sins of His church. The Redeem-er's "get-away" was characteristically short-lived; but I think we can derive a principle here: it is all right to grieve; and sometimes we need time alone with our God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "See that all be well within, and then all troubles from without cannot much annoy us.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Con-flict with Itself"]