MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Here is another story beautifully told. As so often in Mark, two narratives are at play. On the surface, Jesus goes out to pray early in the morning. Even Jesus, God himself, regularly takes time to be alone with the Father and pray. He does this, surely, not only to be an example to us, but to keep His human will attuned to the divine will of His Father and spend time drawing strength from the unbroken fellowship of the Trinity. There is no need to assume that He is driven again into the wilderness. He just goes out before anyone else is awake to somewhere where He could be alone. Simon, already the leader, takes the others and goes looking for Him and, on finding Him, declares (with some exaggeration?) that everybody is looking for Him. One cannot help sensing that Simon and the rest felt that Jesus’ responsibility is to be with them, preaching and healing, and not playing hooky on His own.

Underneath, however, lies a darker narrative. In Galilee with Herod Antipas watching, Jesus needs to keep on the move. Herod’s father has tried to assassinate ‘the one who has been born king of the Jews’, as a result of which Mary and Joseph have fled to Egypt to keep Him safe.2 Now Jesus is back in Antipas’ territory, attracting large crowds. Mark’s words are suggestive: ‘Very early’, ‘while it was still dark’, ‘Jesus … went off’, ‘solitary place’, ‘Everyone is looking for you!’

Yes, they are – and not only so that they can learn from His teaching and be healed by His miracles. Some have more sinister motives. Notice, however, how Jesus turns necessity into advantage as He travels around Galilee, outwitting Herod and fulfilling the Father’s purposes at the same time. In more than one sense, He is awake while Simon and his friends still sleep.

Father, keep us, like Jesus, ‘as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves’.3