Following after Jesus #44

Here is Luke's record of Jesus' encounter with a leper early in His ministry:

 5:12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Jesus was following the plan: go from city to city in Galilee, teaching about the Kingdom of God in the synagogues, and do battle with the forces of darkness along the way.  It was physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting.  Public speaking may not look like exhausting work, but it is.  Afterwards, most who do so are spent.  But Jesus was doing more: He was open to interruptions along the way, willingly spending time with individuals and families and small groups. Many of these interactions involved healing the sick.  It seemed like the line was endless; the more He taught and healed, the more people came to see and hear Him. How did Jesus deal with this day after day after day? He would pray, talk with His Father in heaven.  How often do we need to reread that, to remember that, to re-enact that in our daily lives? If it was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for us.